Gov. Newsom Sues Fox News for Defamation

California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News, alleging that the network and host Jesse Watters deliberately misrepresented his communications with former President Donald Trump during recent immigration protests in Los Angeles. The suit claims Fox News manipulated video and edited statements to falsely depict Newsom as lying about the timing of a phone call with Trump, drawing parallels to Fox's $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems. Newsom has demanded a retraction and an on-air apology from Watters, warning he will proceed to trial if those conditions are not met. Fox News has dismissed the lawsuit as a frivolous attempt to silence criticism. The case has attracted national attention and is seen as significant for its potential impact on media standards and political discourse. Newsom frames the lawsuit as a necessary response to protect democratic principles from media disinformation.