Gavin Newsom laid into a Fox News primetime host after the California governor was accused of racism.
Newsom is facing accusations of racism from conservative media figures after telling an audience of black voters he was 'like you' while claiming he received a low SAT score and struggles with reading.
Conservative firebrand Sean Hannity reacted to Newsom's comments on X by writing, 'Thinks a 960 SAT Makes Him "Like" Black Americans. Let That Sink In.'
Newsom fired back at Hannity with a profanity-laced rant, accusing the Fox host of defending Donald Trump after the president shared a video depicting Barack Obama as an ape.
'You didn’t give a sh** 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?' Newsom wrote.
'Spare me your fake f**king outrage, Sean.'
Newsom attended an event in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday to promote his memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, as speculation grows that he may run for president in 2028.
The California governor was asked about his lifelong struggle with dyslexia, to which he responded: '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.'
Gavin Newsom is facing backlash after claiming he struggles to read prepared speeches
Rapper Nicki Minaj accused Newsom of trying to appeal to black voters by claiming he does not know how to read
Newsom bashed Hannity in a profanity-laced reply over his controversial comments
'You know, I'm a 960 SAT guy... you've never seen me read a speech because I cannot read - a speech.'
Rapper Nicki Minaj, an outspoken Trump supporter, responded to the clip by claiming Newsom was trying to appeal to black voters by telling 'them how stupid he is & that he can’t read.'
Minaj then accused the governor of slowing down his speech by talking in a 'sporadic cadence.'
'He’s not just TELLING them that they’re all probably stupid & probably can’t read, he’s LITERALLY SLOW-ING-DOWN-HIS-SPEECH to make them understand the words that are coming out of his mouth!!!! As if they’re children!!!!'
Newsom's spokesperson responded to conservative outrage by telling the Daily Mail: 'First MAGA mocked his dyslexia and now they’re calling him racist for talking about his low SAT scores. This is fake MAGA-manufactured outrage.'
'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**k themselves.'
Other conservative media personalities also piled on Newsom for sharing his difficulties reading.
'This clip will haunt him forever,' wrote former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly.
Newsom's latest memoir traces his early political rise in California as the mayor of San Francisco
Conservative firebrand Mark Levin claimed, 'If any Republican said what this moron Newscum said, their political careers would be over. Let’s see how the Democrats and their media react.'
Newsom is widely viewed as a leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, as the party searches for direction following defeat in 2024.
Prediction markets and early Democratic voter polling show Newsom leading the field, along with former Vice President Kamala Harris.
His latest memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, will be released on Tuesday. The governor's book tour has upcoming stops in major blue states, including California and New York.
The book traces Newsom's political rise in California as the mayor of San Francisco, while also providing a candid account of his childhood.
