California Gov. Gavin Newsom has spoken publicly about his learning disability and is widely believed to have White House ambitions
Trump questions Newsom’s fitness to serve in White House over his dyslexia
President Donald Trump cited California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s lifelong learning disability.
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President Donald Trump on Monday questioned California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s fitness for higher office, citing his learning disability.
Trump was speaking with reporters in the Oval Office when he talked about requiring identification to vote in elections and the resistance from Newsom and other Democratic elected officials.
“That’s how crazy it’s gotten with a low IQ person, you know, because Gavin Newsom has admitted…that he has learning disabilities,” Trump said. “Honestly, I’m all for people with learning disabilities. But not for my president…I think a president should not have learning disabilities.”
GAVIN NEWSOM SPOX TELLS REPORTER ‘F— OFF’ WHEN ASKED FOR RECORDS OF HIS DYSLEXIA DIAGNOSIS
California Gov. Gavin Newsom might have offended his voters while trying to relate to them in a cringeworthy attempt to talk about his moderate level of intelligence. (Tayfun Coskun/Getty Images)
“I know it’s highly controversial to say such a horrible thing,” he added. “Gavin Newsom admitted that he has learning disabilities, dyslexia. Everything about him is dumb.”
Newsom, who is widely believed to have White House ambitions, has spoken about his dyslexia, a neurologically-based learning disability that makes it difficult to read, according to the International Dyslexia Association.
“You’ve never seen me read a speech, because I cannot read a speech,” Newsom said in Atlanta last month while promoting his memoir: “Young Man in a Hurry.” “I haven’t overcome dyslexia. I’m living with it.”
Trump also criticized Newsom for his remarks at that same Atlanta event.
“I’m not, you know, I’m not trying to impress you, I’m just trying to impress upon you, I’m like you. I’m no better than you,” Newsom told Mayor Andre Dickens at a book tour event.
President Donald Trump questioned California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s fitness for the White House, citing his dyslexia, which the Democratic elected official has spoken openly about. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images; Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“You know, I’m a 960 SAT guy. And, you know, and I’m not trying to offend anyone, you know, ‘trying to act all there if you got 940,’” he continued. “Literally a 960 SAT guy, you’ve never seen me read a speech. Because I cannot read a speech. Maybe the wrong business to be in.”
Republicans criticized the governor for allegedly talking down to a mostly Black audience.
“So now, on top of everything else, I call him a racist because it happened to be a black audience,” Trump said Monday. “I will tell you this, I think it was the worst interview I’ve ever seen of any human being in my life.”
At the time, Newsom’s office defended his comments in a previous statement to Fox News Digital.
“First MAGA mocked his dyslexia and now they’re calling him racist for talking about his low SAT scores. This is MAGA-manufactured outrage,” Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon said.
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“The Governor has said this publicly for years — including with Charlie Kirk and dozens of other audiences. The same people who excused or ignored Trump’s racist ape video can go f— themselves.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Newsom’s office.
Trump mocks Newsom’s dyslexia, sparks backlash
Donald Trump has drawn criticism after mocking California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s dyslexia at a Kentucky rally and in subsequent online posts, framing it as a cognitive deficiency. Newsom, a possible 2028 Democratic presidential contender, has been open about his learning disability, which experts say is not a mental disorder. The exchange has reignited debates over political rhetoric, mental fitness, and personal attacks in high-stakes campaigns.
Trump escalates feud with dyslexia remarks
At a rally in Kentucky, President Trump mocked Gov. Gavin Newsom’s dyslexia, suggesting it made him unfit for the presidency. He referred to Newsom as “Newscum” and described him as having “mental problems” and a “mental lack of ability.” The comments continued online, where Trump called Newsom a “cognitive mess” and labeled his disclosure of dyslexia a “politically suicidal act.” TheWrap + 4
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Trump calls Gavin Newsom’s candid dyslexia comments ‘a politically suicidal act’
Trump says Newsom is unfit to be president because he ‘can’t read’
Backlash over equating dyslexia with mental disorder
Medical experts and critics pushed back against Trump’s characterization, noting dyslexia affects up to 20% of Americans and is not a mental disorder or cognitive deficiency. The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity emphasizes it is a learning difference, not an indicator of intelligence. Trump’s remarks drew particular scrutiny given ongoing public questions about his own cognitive health from both political opponents and former aides. HuffPost
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Trump ripped after ‘blatant and disgusting’ attack on Gavin Newsom
Grammarly
Rally interruption adds dramatic moment
Trump’s comments came shortly after a woman collapsed behind him on stage, prompting a pause in the event while Dr. Mehmet Oz and others provided aid. Once the woman was helped offstage, Trump resumed speaking and quipped that his topic—Newsom—might have caused her to faint. The episode added an unexpected moment of drama to an already charged rally. San Francisco Chronicle + 1
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Trump blames Newsom after woman collapses during campaign rally
Newsom’s memoir becomes political flashpoint
Newsom’s recent memoir, ‘Young Man in a Hurry,’ details his struggles with dyslexia and how it shaped his life. Trump seized on these disclosures as political ammunition, claiming they disqualified Newsom from higher office. Newsom fired back sharply on social media, calling Trump a “brain-dead moron” and suggesting the president’s remarks said more about Trump’s own mental state. TheWrap + 1