Newsom slammed for 'racist' comment to Black Atlanta mayor | Fox News
By: Andrew Miller (Fox News)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Gov. Newsom facing blowback over 'racist' clip during Georgia book tour stop
Newsom says in the viral clip he is "just like you" before explaining that he did poorly on the SAT and has trouble reading. (Credit: YouTube/Gavin Newsom)
California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, widely believed to have White House ambitions, is facing blowback over a viral clip that critics say portrays him talking down to Black voters while discussing his poor test scores and reading ability.
"I'm not, you know, 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," Newsom told Mayor Andre Dickens at a book tour event on Sunday in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Rialto Center for the Arts.
"You know, I'm a 960 SAT guy. And, you know, and I'm not trying to offend anyone, you know, 'trying to act all there if you got 940,'" Newsom continued. "Literally a 960 SAT guy, you've never seen me read a speech. Because I cannot read a speech. Maybe the wrong business to be in."
The clip, first posted by the conservative influencer account End Wokeness, has been viewed over 20 million times after being posted on Sunday, with many conservatives suggesting that Newsom's comment was "racist."
Gov. Gavin Newsom during a bill signing on Aug. 21, 2025, in Sacramento, California.(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
"His way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can't read," rapper Nickii Minaj posted on X. "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."
"I can't believe this is real," conservative influencer account LibsofTikTok posted on X. "Where's BLM and Democrats denouncing this racism?"
"He said this to appear down with black folks," founder and CEO of XX-XY Athletics Jennifer Sey posted on X. "Could he be more racist? Like actually really racist?"
"The soft bigotry of low expectations," GOP Sen. Ted Cruz posted on X.
"This is disqualifying," Fox News contributor Joe Concha posted on X. "Run this ad over and over in 2027-2028…"
"California governor Gavin Newsom tells a black audience he's just like them, got a 960 SAT and he can't read," Outkick founder Clay Travis posted on X. "Will any Democrats planning to run in 2028 hit on him on this? They should, moronic statement."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during the Munich Security Conference in Germany, on Feb. 13, 2026.(Johannes Simon/Getty Images)
"If any Republican said what this moron Newscum said their political careers would be over," conservative radio host Mark Levin posted on X. "Let's see how the Democrats and their media react."
"Liberal racism on display," political commentator Carol Swain posted on X.
Newsom's office defended his comments in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"First MAGA mocked his dyslexia and now they're calling him racist for talking about his low SAT scores. This is MAGA-manufactured outrage," Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon said.
"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--- themselves."
Newsom, who is on the road promoting his new memoir, "Young Man in a Hurry," is considered a top contender for the Democratic nomination for president in 2028 as most pundits believe he has his eyes on the White House.
After publication, Dickens's office responded to a request for comment by pointing to an Instagram post where the mayor defended Newsom.
"Take it from someone who was actually in the chair asking the questions: context matters more than a headline. The conversation around his new book included him speaking about his own academic struggles, including not doing well on the SAT," Dickens wrote.
"That wasn't an attack on anyone. It was a moment of vulnerability about his own journey. We've gotten so used to loud, chest-pounding politics that when someone speaks about shortcomings, people try to twist it into something else. Let me be clear though. This is Atlanta. We don't need anyone to tell us when to be offended. And history has shown... when we are, you'll know. If you want the full context, watch the full clip, read the book, and engage the complete conversation."
Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.
Trolling, taunting, spamming, and off-topic comments may be removed at the discretion of group mods. NT members that vote up their own comments, repeat comments, respond to themselves, or continue to disrupt the conversation risk having all their comments deleted. Please remember to quote the person(s) you are replying to preserve the continuity of this seed. Any comments about trump or MAGA will be deleted.
Tags
Who is online
86 visitors
Look a White racist democrat (redundant) Saying to a group of African Americans, look at me, I'm stupid just like you are. I can't read either.
This is what happens when a society becomes over woke.
Newsom in front of a black audience : “ just like you, I can’t read”
newsom in front of a white audience “ I loved that book, read it in an hour and a half”
He may have finally screwed himself.
Don't be silly.
He's just said the quiet part out loud.
They've always believed this, as evidenced by the 40 years or more of education and social policies they advanced.
Their entire platform has been built for decades on the idea that they have a moral obligation to help people they fundamentally believe are inferior.
And you think they intend to abandon that self-righteousness now?
Please.
Yes sir, as usual, well said.
EXCLUSIVE and BREAKING: What about that @GavinNewsom dyslexia diagnosis - can the gov. provide any paperwork related to his dyslexia diagnosis at any time of his life?
Newsom’s comms team just now tells me to “fuck off.”
Think @GavinNewsom ’s comms team is losing it today? pic.twitter.com/oT3GoK5Cxi
— Susan Crabtree (@susancrabtree) February 23, 2026
This will be, of course, perfectly acceptable to the people who have meltdowns over Trump's language..
Sadly, par for he course for progressives:
A new study suggests that white Americans who hold liberal socio-political views use language that makes them appear less competent in an effort to get along with racial minorities.
I can't be the only one that noticed that there isn't a single "progressive", "liberal", Democrat that stepped up and called him out for this blatant racist comment. But then again, why should they, nothing was said when Hochul said blacks don't know what a computer is.
And somehow it's the conservatives and right that are "racist".
It's ingrained in their world view. They can't condemn it.
Their entire platform is based on minorities being inferior and needing to be taken care of by old virtue signaling white people.
What's truly hilarious are all the rightwing conservatives pretending that they care and pretending they haven't said worse themselves and heard worse from their rightwing conservative brethren thousands of times. But don't let that stop dishonest dumb fucks from trying to make political points! Rightwing conservatives are just too funny.
Can you point out 1 time that a conservative politician has said that African Americans are too stupid to get into college or ahead without our help? the racist pieces of shit white sheet wearing democrat party is built on that.
Actually I haven't. But hearing it from the left wing ass clowns, that's a different story.