California Governar Gavin Newsom used a Fox News clip to mock Donald Trump’s reading ability. The exchange came days after Newsom faced backlash over comments about his SAT score and dyslexia while promoting his new memoir.
Gavin Newsom makes fun of Donald Trump on Twitter
The controversy began when Gavin Newsom spoke with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens about his book Young Man in a Hurry. Explaining its “humble” premise, Newsom said, “I’m not trying to impress you, I’m just trying to impress upon you I’m like you, I’m not better than you.”
He added, “I’m a 960 SAT guy, and you know, I’m not trying to offend anyone — you know — trying to act all there if you got 940 — but 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.”
The remarks got immediate backlash from conservative representatives including Sen. Tim Scott and rapper Nicki Minaj. Scott wrote on X, “Black Americans aren’t your low bar. We’ve built empires, created movements, outworked, outhustled and outsmarted people like you.”
The situation escalated when Fox News host Jesse Watters weighed in during an episode of The Five. Watters commented on Newsom’s potential 2028 presidential ambitions, stating, “I don’t want a president who scores poorly. I don’t want a president who struggles to read. I want a really smart president.”
Social media users quickly pointed out the apparent irony of Watters’ statement, given that Trump, whom Fox News frequently supports, has faced years of questions about his own reading habits and cognitive abilities. Gavin Newsom seized the opportunity, replying to a tweet quoting Watters’ comment with: “Jesse, you already have one.” Newsom, who was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, has been transparent about his learning disability throughout his political career. He even co-authored a children’s book on the subject.
