By California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing mounting backlash after a clip from his Atlanta book tour stop went viral, with critics accusing him of speaking in a tone they described as condescending—and, in some cases, racist—toward a predominantly Black audience.
The moment unfolded Sunday at the Rialto Center for the Arts, where Newsom was promoting his memoir Young Man in a Hurry in conversation with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens before a largely Black crowd. In footage that quickly spread across social media, the governor sought to underscore humility and relatability.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing criticism for remarks he made during the Atlanta stop of his book tour on Sunday night, in which he told a live audience and the mayor of Atlanta, "I'm like you," as he discussed getting a score of 960 on the SAT.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC)… pic.twitter.com/4UPxvAJd3r
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 23, 2026
“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,” he said, addressing Mayor Dickens.
Newsom then referenced his academic record.
“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,’” Newsom 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.”
The clip was initially amplified by a conservative social media account and drew tens of millions of views, explained Fox News. Critics argued that Newsom’s attempt to bond with the audience by highlighting low test scores and reading struggles carried uncomfortable implications about intelligence.
Rapper Nicki Minaj wrote on Twitter that Newsom tried bonding by “telling them how stupid he is & that he can’t read,” pointing as well to what she described as a change in his cadence. Conservative influencer Libs of TikTok questioned why Black Lives Matter activists and Democratic leaders had not denounced the remarks, calling them racist. Jennifer Sey, founder of XX-XY Athletics, said Newsom was trying to appear “down with black folks” in a manner she characterized as “really racist.” Sen. Ted Cruz invoked the phrase “soft bigotry of low expectations,” a long-standing critique of paternalistic political rhetoric.
Other conservative commentators escalated the criticism. Fox News contributor Joe Concha labeled the comments “disqualifying” for any future national campaign. OutKick founder Clay Travis and radio host Mark Levin suggested the reaction would have been far harsher had a Republican made similar remarks.
Newsom has spoken publicly for years about his dyslexia, including in appearances with conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. His memoir frames those struggles as part of a broader personal narrative — a theme that has taken on added scrutiny amid speculation about his potential 2028 presidential ambitions.
His office melted down over the backlash.
“First MAGA mocked his dyslexia and now they’re calling him racist for talking about his low SAT scores. This is MAGA-manufactured outrage,” spokesperson Izzy Gardon said. “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.”
You didn’t give a shit about the President of the United States of America posting an ape video of President Obama or calling African nations shitholes — but you’re going to call me racist for talking about my lifelong struggle with dyslexia?
Spare me your fake fucking outrage,… https://t.co/ABNZJQJLcj
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) February 23, 2026
Some have noted that Newsom changes his dyslexia story depending on the race of the audience he’s speaking to:
Why does Gavin Newsom‘s literacy seem to be audience dependent?
Gavin Newsom: I can’t read.
Also Gavin Newsom: I read your 260 page book in less than two hours. pic.twitter.com/hC40kF8xGl
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) February 23, 2026
While most people focused on Newsom’s racist comments. It should also be noted that the governor of California saying that he can’t read anything as sophisticated as a speech does answer a lot of questions about the ongoing problems in the state.
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