California Governor Gavin Newsom stepped into a firestorm during a recent stop in Atlanta, where he attempted to bond with a predominantly black audience by admitting his low SAT score and claiming he “can’t read.”
The remarks, captured on video, drew swift backlash for their patronizing tone, with rap icon Nicki Minaj leading the charge in calling out what many see as embedded leftist elitism toward minority communities.
The exchange serves as yet another window into the Democrat playbook that assumes black voters need to be talked down to, echoing the same arrogance that dismisses concerns over voter ID as too burdensome for “those people.”
🚨 HOLY SMOKES. Gavin Newsom actually said this to a predominantly black crowd
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 23, 2026
“I’m like you. 960 SAT guy…I can’t read…”
Is this his 2028 platform? “Minorities are dumb?”
They:
- Can’t read
- Can’t get ID
- Can’t prove citizenship
UNREAL.pic.twitter.com/bP03HA4xo6
The incident unfolded as Newsom addressed a crowd in Georgia alongside Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. In footage that quickly went viral, the governor said, “I’m like you. 960 SAT guy…I can’t read…”
Conservative commentator Eric Daugherty shared the clip on X, questioning if this was Newsom’s pitch for a potential 2028 presidential run: “Is this his 2028 platform? ‘Minorities are dumb?’ They: – Can’t read – Can’t get ID – Can’t prove citizenship UNREAL.”
But it was Nicki Minaj’s scorching response that amplified the outrage. The artist, known for her no-holds-barred commentary, posted a detailed critique on X, pulling no punches.
“His way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can’t read. This means my first read on him was correct. He’s been handed so many things & put in high positions he never earned or deserved,” Minaj wrote.
His way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can’t read.
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) February 23, 2026
This means my first read on him was correct. He’s been handed so many things & put in high positions he never earned or deserved.
Do you wanna know the craziest part of this footage that… https://t.co/llo1k7F7wB
She didn’t stop there, zeroing in on Newsom’s delivery: “Do you wanna know the craziest part of this footage that will haunt him forever? He’s literally slowing his speech down & 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!!!! That means he REALLY BELIEVES they’re slow. He’s not just saying it—he didn’t misspeak!!!! He BELIEVES it!!!!”
The comments have sparked widespread condemnation, with critics accusing Newsom of perpetuating harmful stereotypes under the guise of relatability.
Newsom framed the comments as self-deprecating humor, but many aren’t buying it, seeing it as another example of Democrat condescension that treats minority communities as perpetual victims rather than empowered citizens.
This isn’t Newsom’s first controversy. His tenure in California has been marred by policies that have driven businesses and residents out of the state, including unchecked homelessness and crime waves that disproportionately affect working-class neighborhoods. Meanwhile, he’s eyed a national stage, promoting a book tour that conveniently positions him for higher office.
Conservatives point out the irony: while Trump-era policies lifted black unemployment to historic lows through opportunity zones and criminal justice reform, figures like Newsom push narratives that undermine self-reliance.
With speculation swirling about Newsom’s presidential ambitions, this blunder could haunt him. As Daugherty put it, “Everyone is saving this footage for 2028.” In a political landscape where authenticity wins, Newsom’s polished facade cracked, revealing the disdain that MAGA supporters have long argued lurks beneath progressive rhetoric.
Black voters, increasingly shifting toward conservative values that prioritize family, security, and economic freedom, won’t be swayed by such pandering. Minaj’s voice adds fuel to that fire, proving that cultural icons are waking up to the left’s manipulative games.
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