Gavin Newsom Sues Fox News for $787 Million Over Jesse Watters Segment Exposing Him [WATCH]

California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News, targeting the network and host Jesse Watters for comments made during a broadcast that questioned Newsom’s denial of a phone conversation with President Donald Trump.

The lawsuit, filed in Delaware Superior Court, centers around a June 10 segment of “Primetime with Jesse Watters.”

In the broadcast, Watters referenced President Trump’s statement that he spoke with Newsom by phone and presented call logs reportedly confirming a 16-minute call that took place on June 7.

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Newsom publicly denied the claim, stating on X, “There was no call. Not even a voicemail. Americans should be alarmed that a President deploying Marines onto our streets doesn’t even know who he’s talking to.”

There was no call. Not even a voicemail.

Americans should be alarmed that a President deploying Marines onto our streets doesn’t even know who he’s talking to. https://t.co/y7TJUhUZGI

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 10, 2025

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The segment aired days after President Trump had told reporters he spoke with the California governor “a day ago.”

Watters told viewers that Fox News host John Roberts had obtained call logs from the president showing the conversation occurred on the evening of June 7.

“Newsom responded, and he said there wasn’t a phone call, said Trump never called him, not even a voice mail,” Watters said.

“But John Roberts got Trump’s call logs, and it shows Trump called him late Friday night and they talked for 16 minutes. Why would Newsom lie and claim Trump never called him? Why would he do that?”

JUST IN: California Governor Gavin Newsom sues Fox News for $800M, accusing the network of lying about his call with President Trump during the LA riots.

Newsom is specifically demanding an on-air apology from Jesse Watters.

“Mr. Newsom’s lawyers also sent Fox News a letter… pic.twitter.com/PskmgEjGnZ

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 27, 2025

The lawsuit accuses Fox News of defamation and claims that the network knew or should have known that Watters’ statements were false.

In legal filings and correspondence with the network, Newsom’s attorneys argue that even if Trump’s recollection of the date was incorrect, the segment’s suggestion that Newsom lied was “false and malicious.”

A letter sent to Fox News on Newsom’s behalf took direct aim at Trump, stating, “It is perhaps unsurprising that a near-octogenarian with a history of delusionary public statements and unhinged late-night social media screeds might confuse the dates.”

The letter accused the network of covering for the president’s alleged mistake.

The amount sought by Newsom—$787 million—is nearly identical to the $787.5 million Fox News paid to Dominion Voting Systems in a defamation settlement in 2023.

According to reports from Politico and the Daily Caller, Newsom’s attorneys have said the lawsuit could be dropped if Fox News issues a full retraction and Watters apologizes to Newsom live on-air.

In a statement released to Politico, Newsom said, “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. Until Fox is willing to be truthful, I will keep fighting against their propaganda machine.”

“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,” Newsom told POLITICO in a statement. “Until Fox is willing to be truthful, I will keep fighting against their propaganda machine.” https://t.co/ykwuxeGNbB

— David M. Antonelli (@DavidMAntonelli) June 27, 2025

Fox News issued a response through a spokesperson, calling the lawsuit “frivolous” and accusing the governor of attempting to suppress free speech.

“Gov. 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,” the statement said.

New statement from Fox News on the Gavin Newsom lawsuit: “Gov. 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.”

— Jeremy Barr (@jeremymbarr) June 27, 2025

The legal battle now heads to Delaware, where Fox has previously faced defamation challenges. A court date has not yet been scheduled.

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