Fact check: Is the California governor suing the Trump administration?

1. Summary of the results

Yes, California is currently pursuing multiple active lawsuits against the Trump administration. Specifically:

• A lawsuit challenging Trump's tariff policies, filed jointly by Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta ^[1]
• A federal lawsuit filed alongside 16 other states regarding EV charging infrastructure funding on May 7, 2025 ^[2]
• A lawsuit concerning library grants and the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services ^[3]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question oversimplifies what is actually a complex pattern of legal challenges:

• California has a long history of legal confrontations with the Trump administration, having filed at least 123 lawsuits during Trump's first term ^[4]
• The state has been notably successful in these legal battles, winning approximately two-thirds of their cases ^[4]
• The current tariff-related lawsuit specifically argues that Trump has exceeded his executive powers by using emergency powers to impose global tariffs ^[5]
• The EV infrastructure lawsuit involves billions of dollars in Congressional-approved funding that was allegedly withheld unlawfully ^[2]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The simple yes/no nature of the original question fails to capture several crucial aspects:

• It doesn't acknowledge that this is California's 12th lawsuit against the current administration ^[3]
• It overlooks the fact that these legal challenges were strategically planned, with Democratic leaders preparing even before Trump took office ^[4]
• Multiple stakeholders are involved, including:
• California's state government, seeking to protect its economic interests ^[1]
• 16 other states joining in the EV infrastructure lawsuit ^[2]
• The Institute of Museum and Library Services and its beneficiaries ^[3]
• Businesses and consumers affected by the tariff policies ^[1]