President Donald Trump questioned California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s fitness for the presidency on Monday, referencing Newsom’s publicly disclosed learning disability. Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump highlighted Newsom’s admission of dyslexia and argued that a president should not have learning disabilities.
Trump Cites Newsom’s Dyslexia in Criticism
Trump commented on Newsom’s learning disability during a discussion about voter identification laws, noting Newsom’s resistance to such measures. “Gavin Newsom has admitted… that he has learning disabilities,” Trump said, adding, “Honestly, I’m all for people with learning disabilities. But not for my president.” He described Newsom’s dyslexia as a disqualifying factor for holding the nation’s highest office.
Newsom has publicly spoken about his dyslexia, describing it as a condition he lives with rather than one he has overcome. During a recent book tour event in Atlanta, Newsom said, “You’ve never seen me read a speech, because I cannot read a speech.”
Controversy Over Newsom’s Remarks and Trump’s Response
Trump also criticized Newsom’s comments at the Atlanta event, where Newsom stated, “I’m like you. I’m no better than you,” while referencing his SAT score. Republicans accused the governor of condescension toward a predominantly Black audience during that event. “I call him a racist because it happened to be a black audience,” Trump said, calling Newsom’s interview “the worst” he had seen.
Newsom’s spokesperson responded by accusing MAGA supporters of manufacturing outrage over the governor’s remarks and dyslexia. The spokesperson noted Newsom had disclosed his learning disability publicly for years and condemned attacks that compared his comments to past controversial remarks by Trump.
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