A Governor’s Challenge to a Media Giant
California Governor Gavin Newsom filed a staggering $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News on Friday, targeting host Jesse Watters and the network’s broadcast of what Newsom calls a provably false accusation. At the heart of the case is Watters’ televised claim that Newsom lied about a call with former President Donald Trump, coupled with an on-screen chyron that read “Gavin Lied About Trump’s Call.” Newsom alleges that not only is the claim false, but it was made with full awareness of its inaccuracy.
The dispute stems from a high-tension week in June when protests over Trump’s immigration policies erupted across Los Angeles. Trump publicly asserted he had spoken to Newsom on June 9, the day before his claim. Newsom, however, stated the last call happened on June 7, and his office provided verified call logs to support that timeline. Rather than correcting the record, Newsom argues, Fox News and Watters continued to push the narrative that he had lied.
In a move echoing Fox’s costly 2023 settlement with Dominion Voting Systems, Newsom’s legal team warned the network that the lawsuit could be avoided if it issued a full retraction and public apology. Fox News reportedly declined, triggering the formal legal action in Delaware, the same court that previously ordered the network to pay Dominion nearly $800 million for spreading election lies.
A War of Words Becomes a Court Battle
The lawsuit is not happening in a vacuum. It’s the latest escalation in a deeply personal feud between Newsom and Trump that has played out in press conferences, social media posts, and national headlines. Their public antagonism intensified after Trump ordered military troops into California to respond to anti-deportation protests, a move Newsom claimed was made without his consent or coordination. Trump insisted he gave the governor advance notice, while Newsom vehemently denied it.
During a press briefing, Newsom called Trump a “stone-cold liar” and accused him of deliberately stoking chaos rather than calming it. Trump, in turn, dismissed the governor as “NewScum” and accused him of incompetence in handling civil unrest. The mutual contempt was unmistakable, and the call dispute became another flashpoint in their broader power struggle.
Newsom’s team says the broadcasted lie about the timing of the call wasn’t just a political jab. In their words, it was a deliberate character assassination amplified by a media outlet with a massive audience and a history of favoring Trump. The lawsuit argues that the damage to Newsom’s credibility with both constituents and national audiences was measurable, severe, and deserving of financial remedy.
Legal Stakes and a Message to the Media
This is not the first time Fox News has found itself in legal peril over its reporting practices. Last year’s historic defamation case brought by Dominion Voting Systems set a precedent and revealed just how vulnerable the network can be when it comes to spreading misinformation. Newsom’s team is clearly invoking that precedent, drawing a straight line from Fox’s past behavior to the current lawsuit.
In a public statement to Politico, Newsom made his position clear: “If Fox News wants to lie to the American people on Donald Trump’s behalf, it should face consequences.” The comment echoed sentiments from critics of the network who say Fox routinely blurs the line between commentary and misinformation. With this lawsuit, Newsom is attempting to hold the network accountable not just in public discourse, but in a court of law.
While the legal battle is only beginning, its implications are far-reaching. It’s a test of whether powerful public officials can successfully challenge misinformation aired by equally powerful media figures. It’s also a reminder that the political and media arenas are no longer separate battlegrounds. In this case, they are one and the same.