Gavin Newsom Fires Back at Bill Maher After Being Accused of ‘Imitating’ Donald Trump in Heated Interview

Bill Maher accused California Governor Gavin Newsom of “imitating” President Trump. However Newsom did not stay silent. He responded, saying, “I’m trying to put a mirror up to Donald Trump,” on Friday’s episode of Real Time with Bill Maher. “We’re just trying to reflect that reality and express the absurdity of all of this.”

However, Maher said otherwise. “Among all the people who may or may not be running, you are the one who kind of imitates his style with the trolling—you’re suing Fox now, I understand," he said. “That sounds exactly like what he does.”

Last year, Newsom filed a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News alleging that the network willingly distorted his account of a phone call with the president, including during protests in Los Angeles, and also falsely claimed he had lied about the exchange.

A Delaware judge this week allowed the case to move forward, saying it was ‘reasonably conceivable’ that Fox News acted with actual malice, clearing a key early hurdle for Newsom. According to Bloomberg Law, the court also rejected the network’s attempt to dismiss the case on First Amendment grounds, finding the governor’s claims had enough merit to proceed even under the higher legal bar applied to public officials. “Looking forward to discovery,” Newsom wrote in a post on X, following the ruling.

The discovery stage could force internal communications at Fox News into the open, including emails, texts, and editorial discussions behind the segment. The stage has previously proven risky for the network, and the $787 million figure is the same amount paid for settling the high-profile defamation case with Dominion Voting Systems. The case exposed several internal messages, even contradicting its own on-air claims.

And Maher seems to be confusing imitation and strategy. “That sounds exactly like what he does, suing media,” he said. “We’re going into discovery. Fox better look to settle right now or apologize for defamation,” Newsom said. “Okay, again, but that does sound like him,” Maher replied. “Well then, don’t defame, don’t lie,” Newsom shot back.

This has become a visible part of Newsom’s approach, especially since Donald Trump has returned to the White House, posting memes and all-caps messages that mimic the president’s tone, and turning it back on him. According to recent polls, Newsom sits at the top of the 2028 Democratic field, suggesting the approach may be resonating.