California Governor Gavin Newsom found himself at the center of a furious public backlash this week after making comments about his SAT score at an event in Atlanta, remarks that quickly drew sharp criticism from rapper Nicki Minaj and Senator Tim Scott, as reported by The Hill. The controversy erupted during an event promoting Newsom’s upcoming memoir, “Young Man in a Hurry,” where he was speaking with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.
Newsom shared with Mayor Dickens that he was “a 960 SAT guy,” seemingly attempting to connect with the audience. He added that he wasn’t “trying to offend anyone, trying to act all there if you got 940.” This recorded clip spread like wildfire, particularly sparking outrage among supporters of President Trump, including Minaj and Senator Scott.
Nicki Minaj wasted no time in voicing her displeasure on X. She posted that Newsom’s “way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can’t read.” Minaj didn’t hold back, adding, “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.” It’s no secret that Minaj has been a vocal supporter of President Trump lately, even calling herself his “number one fan.“
Minaj went on to point out what she found particularly egregious about the footage
“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,” she wrote. Minaj argued that Newsom wasn’t just telling people they were “probably stupid & probably can’t read,” but was “LITERALLY SLOW-ING-DOWN-HIS-SPEECH to make them understand the words that are coming out of his mouth!!!! As if they’re children!!!!”
Senator Tim Scott also weighed in, echoing similar sentiments. He posted on X, “Black Americans aren’t your low bar. We’ve built empires, created movements, outworked, outhustled and outsmarted people like you. Stop using your mediocre academics as a way to patronize communities. Its ridiculous!”
Newsom, for his part, quickly pushed back against the accusations of racism. He explained that his remarks weren’t meant to be offensive but were simply a reminder of his lifelong struggle with dyslexia. He’s actually talked about this before in other interviews, so it’s not a new revelation. However, that explanation didn’t stop everyone from piling on. Sean Hannity, for example, posted, “@GavinNewsom Thinks a 960 SAT Makes Him ‘Like’ Black Americans. Let That Sink In.”
Newsom didn’t hesitate to fire back at Hannity. He wrote, “You didn’t give a s— about the President of the United States of America posting an ape video of President Obama or calling African nations s—holes — but you’re going to call me racist for talking about my lifelong struggle with dyslexia?” He was clearly referencing some of President Trump’s past posts on his social media account. Newsom concluded his retort with a blunt, “Spare me your fake f—ing outrage, Sean.”
It’s an interesting time for such a controversy, especially with midterm elections just months away and the 2028 presidential race two years out. Newsom has definitely been eyed as a potential contender for the Democratic nomination, and he’s been actively increasing his national and international presence, often positioning himself in opposition to President Trump.
Published: Feb 24, 2026 12:00 pm