California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a massive $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News over its coverage of his communications with former President Donald Trump during the Los Angeles riots. The unprecedented legal move targets the conservative media giant for allegedly manipulating video footage and making false claims about a phone call between the two political rivals.
Newsom’s lawsuit mirrors the exact settlement amount Fox paid to Dominion Voting Systems last year, suggesting a deliberate message to the network about accountability. The legal battle centers on Fox host Jesse Watters’ editing of video footage that Newsom claims falsely portrayed him as lying about National Guard deployment discussions with Trump. Fox News has dismissed the case as a “transparent publicity stunt” designed to chill free speech, while conservative critics view it as a calculated political move ahead of possible presidential ambitions. The high-profile lawsuit highlights the increasingly contentious relationship between Democratic officials and conservative media, with potential implications for press freedom and political discourse.
Battle Over “Edited” Trump Call Coverage
Governor Newsom filed the lawsuit in Delaware Superior Court, where Fox News is incorporated, demanding both monetary damages and an on-air apology from Fox host Jesse Watters. The legal complaint specifically targets Watters’ segment that allegedly edited video content to support Trump’s version of events regarding National Guard deployment during recent Los Angeles riots. Newsom’s lawsuit contends that Fox News deliberately manipulated footage to create a false narrative about a June 6 phone call between him and former President Trump.
The dispute hinges on conflicting accounts of what was discussed during that conversation, with Trump claiming he spoke to Newsom about deploying the National Guard while Newsom vehemently denies this topic was ever addressed. “No more lies. I’m suing Fox News for $787 million,” Newsom declared in a statement that directly references the settlement amount Fox paid to Dominion Voting Systems in their 2023 defamation case. The governor’s legal team argues that Fox’s editing “misrepresented facts and affected national discussion” about his handling of the civil unrest.
Fox News quickly responded to the lawsuit, calling it a “transparent publicity stunt” designed to “chill free speech critical of him.” The network has promised to “defend this case vigorously and look forward to it being dismissed,” setting the stage for what could become a lengthy legal battle between the California governor and the conservative media powerhouse. The timing of the lawsuit has raised eyebrows among political observers, who note it comes as Newsom continues to build his national profile.
The legal complaint details that while Newsom and the White House confirm a call did take place on June 6, they strongly dispute Trump’s characterization of its content. According to the lawsuit, when Trump later claimed he had spoken to Newsom about troop deployment, Newsom immediately denied this version of events on social media. The case highlights the challenges public figures face in controlling narratives about their actions during crisis situations.
Political Implications and Underlying Tensions
The $787 million figure Newsom is seeking matches exactly what Fox News paid to settle the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit last year, a detail that hasn’t gone unnoticed by political commentators. By choosing this specific amount, Newsom appears to be drawing a direct parallel between Fox’s coverage of election fraud claims and their reporting on his communications with Trump. The governor explicitly stated, “If Fox News wants to lie to the American people on Donald Trump’s behalf, it should face consequences — just like it did in the Dominion case.”
The lawsuit highlights ongoing tensions between Newsom and Trump, including previous disputes over federalization of the California National Guard and threats to withhold federal funding from the state. According to court documents, Newsom had previously sued the Trump administration to prevent the deployment of U.S. Marines and the National Guard to Los Angeles during earlier protests. These historical conflicts provide important context for understanding the current legal battle and the political dynamics at play.
Embarrassing errors in this letter… “discrete” not discreet for one… https://t.co/RI6h15B8d7
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@HarmeetKDhillon) June 28, 2025
Conservative critics have questioned the timing and motivation behind Newsom’s lawsuit, suggesting it may be a strategic public relations move designed to boost his national profile ahead of potential presidential ambitions. Harmeet Dhillon, a prominent Republican attorney, posted on social media questioning the legitimacy of Newsom’s claims: “Did Jesse Watters use the Governor’s name? Did he say Newsom is incompetent? That’s not defamation.” This perspective reflects the skepticism many conservatives have expressed about the lawsuit’s legal merits.
Some political analysts note that the lawsuit allows Newsom to position himself as standing up to both Trump and Fox News simultaneously, potentially appealing to Democratic primary voters. The legal action comes at a time when many Democrats have expressed frustration with what they perceive as misinformation from conservative media outlets. Newsom’s aggressive stance against Fox News mirrors the approach taken by other Democratic figures who have directly confronted conservative media narratives.
Legal Hurdles and Media Freedom Concerns
Legal experts point out that defamation cases involving public figures like Newsom face significant hurdles under current law. To prevail, Newsom would need to prove that Fox News acted with “actual malice” – meaning they either knew their statements were false or showed reckless disregard for the truth. This high standard, established by the Supreme Court in New York Times v. Sullivan, has traditionally made it difficult for public officials to win defamation suits against media outlets.
The lawsuit’s focus on video editing practices raises important questions about journalistic standards and how news organizations present information to viewers. Newsom’s legal team argues that by selectively editing Trump’s statements about their phone call, Fox News fundamentally misrepresented the facts in a way that damaged the governor’s reputation. The case could potentially establish precedents about how courts view edited video content in defamation claims.
“Gov. Newsom’s transparent publicity stunt is frivolous and designed to chill free speech critical of him,” Fox News stated in their response to the lawsuit. “We will defend this case vigorously and look forward to it being dismissed.” This statement underscores the free speech concerns that often arise in defamation cases against media organizations, particularly when those cases are brought by powerful government officials.
First Amendment advocates from across the political spectrum have expressed concerns about the potential chilling effect of massive defamation lawsuits against media organizations. While some see the Dominion case as justified accountability for spreading election misinformation, others worry that a new wave of defamation suits could inhibit robust political reporting and commentary. The Newsom case adds another high-profile example to this ongoing national debate about the balance between protecting reputations and preserving press freedoms.
The lawsuit specifically targets Fox News host Jesse Watters for allegedly falsely stating that Newsom lied about phone calls with Donald Trump regarding National Guard deployment. According to court documents, Watters aired an edited version of Trump’s comments that omitted key context about the timeline of events. The complaint alleges this editing created a false impression that Newsom was being dishonest about the content of his communications with the former president.
Riot Response and Political Fallout
The backdrop for this legal drama was the recent civil unrest in Los Angeles, where questions about the response from local, state, and federal authorities became politically charged. Critics of Newsom pointed to scenes of looting and violence as evidence of failed leadership, while the governor’s supporters argued that his administration took appropriate measures to restore order while respecting constitutional rights. The deployment of the National Guard became a particular flashpoint in this debate, with Trump claiming credit for pushing Newsom to take more aggressive action.
Conservative media coverage of the riots often focused on perceived failures by Democratic leaders to maintain public safety, a narrative that Newsom’s lawsuit suggests was unfairly applied to his actions. The legal complaint argues that Fox News deliberately mischaracterized his response to the unrest to fit a predetermined political narrative rather than accurately reporting facts. This aspect of the case touches on broader partisan divides about how civil unrest is covered by different media outlets.
Gavin Newsom Sues Fox News for $800M Over Trump Call Claim, Demands On-Air Apology from Jesse Watters
California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed an $800 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News, accusing the network of knowingly lying about a phone call he had with President… pic.twitter.com/IuIbWnbjOj
— News is Dead (@newsisdead) June 27, 2025
Social media has amplified the dispute, with users on both sides sharing clips and commentary about the lawsuit and the underlying events. One viral post showed footage of the Los Angeles riots with the caption: “Maybe instead of suing Fox News for $787 million, Gavin Newsom should focus on law and order in his state.” Such commentary reflects how the lawsuit has become intertwined with broader political debates about governance, law enforcement, and media accountability.
Legal experts note that defamation cases involving public figures typically face lengthy litigation processes, with outcomes that can be difficult to predict. The Dominion case against Fox News was headed for trial before the parties reached their historic settlement agreement. Whether Newsom’s case will follow a similar trajectory or be dismissed early in the process remains to be seen, but both sides appear prepared for a protracted legal battle that could last well into the next election cycle.
Sources:
Newsom sues Fox News for defamation over Trump phone call
Newsom sues Fox News over defamation claims about call with Trump