California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News, alleging the network intentionally misled viewers during immigration enforcement protests in California. The lawsuit, filed on Friday (June 27) in a Delaware federal court, claims Fox News reporters and hosts distorted comments made by President Donald Trump to suggest Newsom lied about their communication during the events.

The filing references Fox's previous $787 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems in 2023, which involved false claims about the 2020 election. Newsom 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." He emphasized the importance of truthful information from major news outlets.

Fox News dismissed the lawsuit as "frivolous," with a spokesperson stating it was a "transparent publicity stunt" aimed at chilling free speech. The lawsuit specifically targets Fox host Jesse Watters and reporter John Roberts, accusing them of editing a video to falsely portray Newsom as lying about a phone call with Trump on June 7. Newsom contends that he last spoke with Trump on that date, and the conversation did not include discussions about the protests or the deployment of the National Guard.

Newsom's lawyers argue that the incident meets the legal standard for defamation and potentially harms his political standing. They also claim it violates California's Unfair Competition Law, which prohibits deceptive business practices. Newsom is pursuing the lawsuit as an individual, not in his official capacity as governor.

Lucy Chapman