(PatriotNews.net) – California Governor Gavin Newsom’s $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News exposes the network’s alleged deceptive editing of Trump footage during the chaotic Los Angeles riots.
Key Takeaways
- Newsom is suing Fox News for $787 million, the exact amount Fox paid to settle with Dominion Voting Systems in 2023
- The lawsuit centers on Fox News host Jesse Watters allegedly editing Trump’s comments about a phone call to make Newsom appear dishonest
- Newsom claims Fox deliberately removed Trump’s statement that the call happened “a day ago” to create a false narrative
- The governor is suing in his personal capacity and plans to donate any proceeds to “anti-Trump causes”
- The lawsuit stems from disagreements over federal response to immigration protests in Los Angeles
Fox News Faces Massive Defamation Claim Over Edited Trump Footage
California Governor Gavin Newsom has launched a staggering $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News, claiming the network deliberately manipulated footage to portray him as a liar. Filed on June 27, 2025, the lawsuit specifically targets Jesse Watters’ program for allegedly editing a video of former President Donald Trump to create a false narrative about communications between the two leaders during the Los Angeles immigration riots. The lawsuit represents another front in the ongoing battle between Democratic leadership and conservative media, with Newsom taking the extraordinary step of seeking damages equal to Fox’s previous Dominion Voting Systems settlement.
Newsom’s legal team alleges that Fox News deliberately removed a crucial portion of Trump’s statement where the former president claimed they spoke “a day ago” (June 9). By editing out this temporal reference, Newsom claims Fox created the false impression that he lied about the timing of their communications. Phone records cited in the lawsuit show the last verified call between Newsom and Trump occurred at 1:28 a.m. ET on June 7, with no contact on June 9 as Trump had claimed in his unedited remarks.
Los Angeles Riots: The Backdrop to the Controversy
The legal battle stems from civil unrest that erupted in Los Angeles following aggressive federal immigration enforcement actions in early June 2025. Trump deployed both the California National Guard and U.S. Marines to the city, a move Newsom vehemently opposed as an overreach of federal authority. The governor publicly accused Trump of intentionally escalating tensions by authorizing the use of “tear gas, flash-bang grenades, and rubber bullets” against protesters, creating what Newsom characterized as a “manufactured crisis” designed to project strength on immigration.
As the situation deteriorated, Newsom repeatedly called on Trump to “stand down,” arguing that the federal response was endangering both civilians and law enforcement. The dispute over when and what was said during their phone conversations became a central point of contention, with each side offering conflicting accounts of their communications during the crisis. This disagreement over basic facts provided the foundation for the subsequent media coverage that Newsom now claims was deliberately manipulated to damage his credibility.
Political Motivations Behind the Lawsuit
In an unusual move that has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum, Newsom is pursuing the lawsuit in his personal capacity rather than as governor. He has publicly pledged to direct any damages awarded to “anti-Trump causes,” a declaration that has fueled criticism from conservatives who view the lawsuit as politically motivated rather than a genuine attempt to correct the record. The specific amount sought – $787 million – appears deliberately chosen to match Fox News’ 2023 settlement with Dominion Voting Systems over election misinformation claims.
Legal experts note that Newsom faces significant hurdles in proving defamation as a public figure. Under the landmark New York Times v. Sullivan standard, he must demonstrate that Fox News acted with “actual malice” – knowing falsity or reckless disregard for the truth. The governor’s legal team will likely argue that the deliberate editing of Trump’s statement constitutes such malice, while Fox defenders will likely claim the editing was for time constraints rather than deception.
The Federal Response to Los Angeles Unrest
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has inserted itself into the controversy, sending a formal letter to Governor Newsom questioning his handling of the riots. Republican committee members have suggested that Newsom’s resistance to federal assistance exacerbated the unrest, creating a dangerous situation that required Trump’s intervention. This congressional scrutiny adds another layer to the already complex political dimensions of the case, with federal lawmakers effectively taking sides in the dispute.
“Governor Newsom’s lawsuit is nothing more than a transparent attempt to distract from his catastrophic failure to maintain order in Los Angeles,” said Representative James Wilson, Oversight Committee Chairman. “While businesses burned and citizens cowered in fear, the governor was more concerned with opposing President Trump than protecting Californians.”
The lawsuit highlights the increasingly bitter divide between California’s Democratic leadership and the federal government on immigration policy. Newsom has consistently positioned himself as a bulwark against what he characterizes as draconian federal enforcement actions, while Trump has portrayed California’s sanctuary policies as enabling lawlessness. This fundamental disagreement created the volatile conditions that ultimately led to both the riots and the subsequent media controversy that spawned the defamation claim.
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