Gavin Newsom is facing fury over his latest comments attempting to appeal to black voters.
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.'
'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 supporter of Donald Trump, 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 right-wing 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.'
Gavin Newsom is facing backlash after claiming he struggles to read prepared speeches
Newsom's latest memoir traces his early political rise in California as the mayor of San Francisco
Rapper Nicki Minaj accused Newsom of trying to appeal to black voters by claiming he does not know how to read
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.
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 of potential contenders, 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 state, including California and New York.
The book traces Newsom's political rise in California as the mayor of San Francisco, while also providing candid account of his childhood.
