California Governor Gavin Newsom’s attempt to connect with Black voters by citing his 960 SAT score and dyslexia has exploded into a full-blown controversy, with the embattled Democrat lashing out at critics in an expletive-laced social media meltdown that reveals just how rattled he is about his 2028 presidential prospects.
Story Snapshot
- Newsom told a Black Atlanta audience he’s “like you” because of his 960 SAT score, sparking accusations of racist pandering given the average SAT score for Black students is 907
- Fox News host Sean Hannity and other prominent conservatives, including Senator Ted Cruz and rapper Nicki Minaj, slammed the comments as tone-deaf stereotyping
- The California governor responded with a profanity-filled post on X attacking Hannity’s “fake f*cking outrage” and accusing him of hypocrisy
- The viral clip garnered 35 million views within hours, dealing a potentially devastating blow to Newsom’s national ambitions
Newsom’s Atlanta Book Tour Gaffe
Governor Newsom appeared Sunday night, February 22, 2026, at an Atlanta event alongside Mayor Andre Dickens to promote his memoir “Young Man in a Hurry.” During his remarks to the predominantly Black audience, Newsom declared: “I’m like you. I’m no better than you… I’m a 960 SAT guy… You’ve never seen me read a speech because I cannot read a speech” due to dyslexia. The comments immediately struck critics as condescending pandering, particularly given College Board data showing the average SAT score for Black test-takers stands at 907 out of 1600.
Bipartisan Backlash Erupts
By Monday morning, the “End Wokeness” social media account shared the clip, which exploded to 35 million views by 1:00 p.m. ET. The criticism came from across the political spectrum, with Fox News host Sean Hannity posting: “Gavin Newsom Thinks a 960 SAT Makes Him ‘Like’ Black Americans.” Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Rick Scott, media personalities Megyn Kelly and Clay Travis, and even rapper Nicki Minaj piled on. Minaj’s particularly stinging rebuke noted: “His way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can’t read.” The backlash highlighted what many saw as an elite politician’s tone-deaf attempt to manufacture relatability.
Governor’s Profane Counterattack
Rather than apologizing or clarifying his remarks, Newsom doubled down with an aggressive response on X directed at Hannity. The post read: “You didn’t give a shit about [Trump’s past remarks]… but you’re going to call me racist for talking about my lifelong struggle with dyslexia? Spare me your fake f*cking outrage, Sean.” The use of profanity by a sitting governor in an official communication is highly unusual and signals desperation. Newsom’s strategy of deflecting to Trump’s past controversies failed to quell the firestorm, instead drawing additional mockery from social media users who urged him to “keep doubling down.”
Pattern of Elite Pandering
This incident fits a broader pattern of progressive politicians attempting to manufacture authenticity while promoting policies that hurt the very communities they claim to represent. Newsom has long positioned himself as a champion of diversity while presiding over California’s skyrocketing cost of living, failing schools, and rampant crime that disproportionately affects minority communities. His reference to dyslexia as a bonding point rings hollow from someone handed elite positions throughout his career, as Minaj noted when she observed Newsom was “handed so many things & put in high positions he never earned.” This disconnect between rhetoric and reality exemplifies the left’s condescending approach to voters.
Presidential Ambitions in Jeopardy
The timing couldn’t be worse for Newsom, who has been positioning himself as a leading Democratic contender for the 2028 presidential race following President Trump’s 2024 victory. This gaffe undermines his carefully crafted image and provides Republicans with ammunition for years to come. The incident reveals the fundamental weakness of Democratic identity politics: when you reduce people to demographic categories rather than treating them as individuals with diverse experiences and capabilities, you inevitably stumble into offensive stereotypes. Newsom’s book tour, intended to build national profile, may instead serve as a cautionary tale about the limits of woke pandering and manufactured victimhood as political strategies.
