Through Sharelle B. McNair
February 23, 2026
Sometimes you just have to read the room.
California Governor Gavin Newsom drew a crowd – and some criticism – during his speech Young man in a hurry book a tour after commenting on a low SAT score and comparing it to a predominantly black audience in Atlanta.
Newsom spoke with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens to share his thoughts on how the Democratic Party should deal with President Donald Trump and MAGA ahead of the important midterm election season.
He encouraged party voters to change their tune, saying: “We can learn to just be a little more humorous.”
“Sometimes less judgmental. Just let it flow a little bit,” the outspoken governor said.
Perhaps Newsom should have taken his own advice.
During the conversation, Newsom, reportedly launching his bid for the presidency in 2028, tried to be relatable to the audience and let them know, “I’m just like you. I’m not better than you.”
“I’m a 960 SAT guy, and I’m not trying to offend anyone, all trade there if you have 940, but literally a 960 SAT guy,” Newsom said.
They then admitted that they had never read a speech.
“I can’t read a speech.”
The comments about the score didn’t go over well on social media, with one user calling it “the most racist thing I’ve ever heard.”
Other users like @milagropress focused on the public’s reaction. “He’s not like me. I could read at age 4, have always been in gifted/accelerated programs/courses, and scored well on my ACT and SAT,” she said on X.
“It is disheartening to listen to a room where black people are laughing while they are being mocked.”
Another news source compared his comments to other cringe-worthy comments, such as “Poor kids are just as smart as white kids” from former President Joe Biden and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who once said, “Black kids don’t know what a computer is.”
However, during a recent CNN interview, Newsom continued the conversation about being dyslexic and how it has shaped his story as a politician, calling it a “freedom” and a “superpower.”
While he is often celebrated for his continued opposition to Trump, in particular for leading the Proposition 50 effort for Democrats against Republicans try to take over Texel, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitutionin terms of social media, Newsom’s campaign is off to a rocky start.
“His 2028 campaign is already COOKED,” @BehizyTweets said.
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