In the latest blow to the network’s credibility, Fox News is facing a new defamation lawsuit filed by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who accuses the network of intentionally misrepresenting a phone call he had with former President Donald Trump. The lawsuit, which seeks $787 million in damages, marks the latest in a string of high-profile defamation cases against Fox News.
At the center of the controversy is a false claim made by Trump on June 10, in which he stated that he had spoken to Newsom “a day ago” about deploying National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles in response to protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. However, Newsom quickly denied having spoken to Trump as recently as the former President claimed.
In an attempt to bolster his claim, Trump provided a screenshot of a call log between him and Newsom to Fox News’ John Roberts. But the image ultimately corroborated Newsom’s account, showing that the two had spoken on June 7 – not June 9, as Trump had claimed. The call had lasted for approximately 16 minutes.
Despite the evidence contradicting Trump’s claim, Fox News host Jesse Watters continued to spread the false narrative on his program, accusing Newsom of lying about the conversation. This deliberate attempt to cover for Trump’s distortion has now led to the defamation lawsuit against Fox News and Watters.
The $787 million figure sought in damages is symbolic, mirroring the amount Fox News paid to Dominion Voting Systems in 2023 for spreading lies about the 2020 presidential election. The lawsuit highlights the network’s pattern of prioritizing partisan loyalty over factual accuracy, and raises questions about the consequences of spreading misinformation on a national platform.
Blue Press Journal 