‘Propaganda machine': Gavin Newsom sues Fox News for $787M over call with Trump; cites edited video
Gavin Newsom (AP), Fox News (Fox News)
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday sued Fox News, accusing the network of deliberately misrepresenting his recent phone call with President Donald Trump.
The suit, lodged in Delaware where Fox is based, seeks at least $787 million in damages and calls for a court order to stop the network from airing or publishing content that falsely claims Newsom lied about the conversation.
The lawsuit centers on a segment from Fox News host Jesse Watters, which allegedly featured a deceptively edited video of Trump to back claims that Newsom had misled the public. The governor's legal team argues that the coverage was not only inaccurate but also intentionally damaging, regarding Trump's recent decision to deploy National Guard troops to Los Angeles.
Newsom has increasingly taken a confrontationalist approach ever since Trump sent troops in LA this month amid his administration's immigration crackdown.
Newsom's lawyers also sent a five-page letter to the media house summarizing the lawsuit, filled with sharp attacks on the network's integrity and mocking remarks about Trump's mental sharpness, reported Politico.
'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 lawyers wrote. 'But Fox's decision to cover up for President Trump's error cannot be so easily dismissed.'
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Eat 1 Teaspoon Every Night, See What Happens A Week Later [Video]
getfittoday
Undo
The letter also stated that the governor was ready to drop the suit if Fox retracts its claim and the host Jess Watters renders an on air apology.
The amount sought by Newsom is nearly the same $787.5 million in damages that Fox News paid Dominion Voting Systems in 2023 to settle a high-profile defamation case involving false claims about the election. His lawsuit comes at a time when President Trump has also launched multiple legal battles against major media outlets and corporations, many of which have ended in multi-million dollar settlements.
'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.'
Newsom says his last phone call with Trump lasted about 16 minutes and took place on June 7, just one day before Trump ordered 2,000 troops to Los Angeles, despite Newsom's objections, to respond to ongoing protests.
On June 8, Newsom spoke about the phone call on MSNBC.
However, on June 10, Trump told reporters he had spoken with Newsom 'a day ago,' suggesting the call happened the same day 700 US marines were sent to Los Angeles. Newsom quickly disputed that timeline in a post on X, rejecting Trump's statement.
'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,' Newsom said in the post.
That evening, Jesse Watters aired a shortened version of Trump's comments and questioned, 'Why would Newsom lie and claim Trump never called him?' At the same time, he displayed a screenshot of the president's call log, provided by Fox host John Roberts, which actually confirmed Newsom's account that their last conversation took place on June 7.
The lawsuit accuses Fox News of intentionally misrepresenting the dispute between Newsom and Trump to damage Newsom's political future. His legal team argues the coverage meets the standard for defamation and could hurt his support with voters and donors. They also claim Fox's actions violated California's unfair competition law by engaging in deceptive business practices.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
26 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize? After Pakistan, now Congo joins the push
Donald Trump Brokers Congo-Rwanda Peace Deal Congo's President Said to Be Considering Trump for Nobel Peace Prize Nomination Live Events A Turning Point After 30 Years of War FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel As the US president Donald Trump, once again positioned himself as a global peacemaker, this time by brokering a peace deal signed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, he may even have gotten Congo's support in nominating him for a Nobel Peace Prize after Pakistan, as per a pointed out that he was able to broker a deal for "one of the worst wars anyone's ever seen," adding, "I was able to get them together and sell it," Mr Trump said. "And not only that, we're getting for the United States a lot of the mineral rights from Congo," as quoted by Sky the signing ceremony started, the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt invited an African reporter and 'friend' Hariana Veras to address the press and attendees in the Oval Office, which included US vice president JD Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio, and the foreign ministers from the two African countries, according to a Daily Beast READ: Who is Hariana Veras, the woman Trump flirted with? President says she is beautiful and wishes more were like her Veras, who is a White House correspondent based in Cong, told Trump that the president of Congo wants to nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize, as she said, "President Félix Tshisekedi is thinking of nominating you for the Nobel Peace Prize. You deserve it," as quoted by Sky pointed out that "You have been working to bring peace in the world, not only in the Congo, and he's very hopeful to meet you in the future," adding, "Tshisekedi told me that for many years, American presidents have overlooked this conflict. They didn't do anything," as quoted by Sky READ: Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill sparks panic among MAGA voters: 'We'd lose everything' Her remarks came as both the African nations signed the peace deal, which Rubio called it "an important moment after 30 years of war," according to the foreign minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner also pointed out about the millions of victims of the conflict, while signing the agreement with Rwandan foreign minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, as per the Sky News per a copy seen by Reuters, the peace agreement, which was signed by the foreign ministers, pledges to implement a 2024 deal that would see Rwandan troops withdraw from eastern DRC within 90 days, as reported by Sky said that, "Some wounds will heal, but they will never fully disappear," adding, "Those who have suffered the most are watching. They are expecting this agreement to be respected, and we cannot fail them," as quoted in the Nduhungirehe pointed out the "great deal of uncertainty" as earlier agreements were not put in place, according to Sky News. He said, "There is no doubt that the road ahead will not be easy," and added, "But with the continued support of the United States and other partners, we believe that a turning point has been reached," as quoted by Sky READ: California's AB5 Law under fire, nail techs sue state over worker classification – what the law states? A Congolese reporter said President Tshisekedi wants to nominate Trump for the Nobel, but it hasn't been made official yet, as per Sky News helped bring leaders from DRC and Rwanda together to sign a peace agreement, with the aim to end a decades-long war, as per the report.
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
4 death penalties secured, 458 cases fast-tracked in a yr
Lucknow: As part of its 'Operation Conviction' campaign, the Uttar Pradesh govt has secured four death penalties and fast-tracked 458 cases of heinous crimes under the new criminal laws since July 2024. These include death penalties for four criminals in Badaun, Hathras and Kanpur Dehat, life imprisonment for 10, over 20 years' jail for 19, and under 20 years' jail for 425 offenders. Total number of convictions secured in the last two years, since July 2023, has crossed 97,000, officials said. Union home minister Amit Shah hailed UP's legal efficiency at the Central Zonal Council meeting in Varanasi earlier this week and termed it as a model for the country. Director general, prosecution, Deepesh Juneja said swift trials, robust evidence presentation, and video testimony helped fast-track convictions and saved Rs 25 crore through reduced court appearances. "The transformation of UP under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is drawing national and international praise. Since July 1, 2023, due to the govt's zero-tolerance policy on crime, the state's 'Operation Conviction' has secured over 97,185 convictions," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "The swift implementation of three new criminal laws and fast-tracking of 458 key cases since July last year have bolstered this drive. Union home minister Amit Shah lauded these efforts in the recent CZC meeting in Varanasi," Juneja added. "Effective implementation of the three new criminal laws is not only propelling UP towards a crime-free status but also setting an exemplary model for the entire nation. At least 458 heinous cases registered under the new laws have seen convictions. These include death penalty for four criminals, life imprisonment for 10, imprisonment of less than 20 years for 425 offenders, and over 20 years' imprisonment for 19 others," he said. "The prosecution effectively presented evidence and witness testimonies, making full use of the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to strengthen and expedite the judicial process. The govt also ensured witness protection, systematic evidence collection, and timely presence in court — all essential elements of a fair trial," he said. "Since July 1, 2024, effective use of digital documentation and witness statements via video conferencing has taken place in the hearing of 25,000 cases across the state. This significantly reduced the need for police and govt witnesses to appear repeatedly in court, resulting in an estimated cost saving of Rs 25 crore for govt," he said.
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
Anomalies in land acquisition for Gorakhpur corridor: SP chief
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday alleged irregularities in the acquisition of land for the heritage corridor being built in Gorakhpur. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, he demanded that the land compensation for the heritage corridor be determined based on market value rather than consent-based agreements. The SP chief alleged that "govt is forcibly getting traders and residents to sign the consent letter by putting pressure through the administration and police so that they do not have to pay more compensation." "If the people of Gorakhpur speak up and reveal the secrets, then instead of a heritage (virasat) corridor, a custody (hirasat) corridor will have to be built there," he said. Akhilesh claimed there were irregularities in land acquisition for other heritage projects also due to which the BJP had to face electoral reverses in these areas. "This is not just about one district, but the whole state. In this game, a few BJP leaders benefit while the public is being cheated," he said. He said this was the reason why "BJP lost in Ayodhya and narrowly escaped defeat in Varanasi in LS polls. Now it's the turn of Mathura and Gorakhpur". The SP chief alleged that BJP workers, in the presence of police, blocked roads and threw eggs and stones at vehicles of an SP delegation that went to Gorakhpur on June 25. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The anime RPG everyone's talking about is finally free! Nikke: Goddess Of Victory Play Now Undo Calling the bulldozer a symbol of injustice, he asked SP workers not to be afraid of "bulldozer, eggs or black flags". Instead of the "fake heritage corridor", a corridor of development will be built when the SP govt will comes to office, he said. Targeting CM Yogi Adityanath, he said, "Think, he's building the heritage corridor now, when he's down to his last budget...." "If he truly wanted to do something for Gorakhpur, he should remember his first announcement... that he will build a metro (metro rail service) in Gorakhpur along with Jhansi," he said.
