Gov. Newsom sues Fox News for $787 million for defamation

Published: 2025-06-28 14:38:08 ET FOXA

Published on 06/28/2025 at 14:38

STORY: NEWSOM: "As it relates to Fox, I'm not pleased."

California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News.

In a Friday announcement, he said the network defamed him by lying about his phone call with Donald Trump, related to the president's immigration crackdown.

And, Newsom said Fox acted with actual malice:

NEWSOM: "Fox chose in multiple instances to amend, omit and edit facts that were in evidence, in order to shape a narrative that was malicious, which was defamatory."

According to the complaint, Newsom spoke by phone with Trump in early June soon after anti-ICE protests broke out in Los Angeles.

Trump later sent National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the state, bypassing the governor.

Newsom said he did not speak again with Trump, and confirmed this after Trump falsely told reporters on June 10 that he had spoken with the governor "a day ago."

The complaint said Fox - a favorite network of conservatives - distorted the facts by making a misleading video clip and multiple false statements about the timing of the last call, in an effort to brand the Democrat a liar.

NEWSOM: "Jesse Watters and John Roberts, they should apologize."

In a letter to the network, Newsom's lawyers said he is prepared to drop the lawsuit if Fox retracted the claim that he lied about his call with Trump, and if both Fox and host Jesse Watters apologized on-air.

Fox said in a statement (quote): "Governor Newsom's transparent publicity stunt is frivolous and designed to chill free speech critical of him. We will defend this case vigorously and look forward to it being dismissed."