‘I think a president should not have learning disabilities’: Trump’s attempt at lambasting Newsom is an inadvertent push for the 2028 hopeful

President Trump suggested that California Governor Gavin Newsom’s dyslexia should disqualify him from ever becoming president. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, the president described Newsom, who is widely considered a potential 2028 candidate, as a “low-IQ person” while discussing voter identification in California, as reported by The Hill.

“Gavin ‘Newscum’ has admitted that he is a — that he has learning disabilities,” Trump said, using his often-derisive nickname for the California Democrat. “Honestly, I’m all for people with learning disabilities, but not for my president. I don’t want — I think a president should not have learning disabilities, OK?” Trump doubled down on his comments, adding, “Everything about him is dumb.”

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle quickly came to the president’s defense. Ingle released a statement saying, “President Trump is right. Gavin Newscum is the worst governor in America, and he also may be the dumbest.” Newsom, however, took to X to mock the statement. He posted, “NO THANK YOU, WE BELIEVE IN FREE ELECTIONS!”

Newsom, for his part, had a direct response to Trump’s comments, especially the part where he was referred to as “President”

This isn’t the first time President Trump has aimed fire at the California governor and his dyslexia, a condition Newsom was diagnosed with at the age of five. Earlier this month, Trump called Newsom “A Cognitive Mess!” and suggested he had a “mental disorder” in a post on Truth Social. These repeated attacks show a clear pattern of targeting Newsom’s learning disability.

The president also seemed to reference remarks Newsom made last month during an event for his memoir. Newsom attempted to relate himself to others, telling Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, “I’m just trying to impress upon you, I’m like you. I’m no better than you. You know, I’m a 960 SAT guy.” Conservatives have criticized Newsom for these SAT comments, suggesting they promoted racist tropes about Black people.

Newsom wasn’t quiet in his response to that criticism either. He fired back on X, specifically addressing Sean Hannity, who had criticized his SAT remarks. “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 shitholes — but you’re going to call me racist for talking about my lifelong struggle with dyslexia?” Newsom wrote.

He concluded his post with a very blunt message: “Spare me your fake f—ing outrage, Sean.”