Newsom slams 'MAGA outrage' over dyslexia, SAT remarks in Atlanta

Irene Wright

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is pushing back forcefully against what his office calls “MAGA-manufactured outrage” after conservative critics and supporters of President Donald Trump attacked remarks he made about dyslexia and his academic struggles during a stop on his national book tour in Atlanta.

The backlash erupted after a short video clip of Newsom discussing his low SAT score and difficulty reading speeches went viral on social media, prompting accusations that the governor was making racially insensitive comments. Newsom and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who moderated the conversation, say those claims strip the remarks of their context.

What Newsom said in Atlanta

Newsom was in Atlanta over the weekend to promote his memoir, "Young Man in a Hurry," and appeared onstage Saturday evening at the Rialto Center for the Arts in a conversation with Dickens. The mayor asked Newsom what he hoped readers would take away from the book, particularly from chapters describing his lifelong struggle with dyslexia.

Newsom framed his answer around vulnerability and authenticity, describing what he called “two separate lives” early in his career—one public-facing and one private.

“I’m not trying to impress you,” Newsom said during the discussion. “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.”

He went on to explain that his learning disability has shaped how he operates in public life.

“You’ve never seen me read a speech, because I cannot read a speech,” Newsom said. “I haven’t overcome dyslexia. I’m living with it.”

Audience members, including Dickens, laughed and applauded, according to reporters inside the theater. Video posted later by accounts supportive of Newsom showed a racially diverse crowd, with a significant number of white attendees.

How the controversy erupted online

The criticism began after the conservative X account “End Wokeness” shared a clipped version of Newsom’s comments, accompanied by a caption suggesting he was speaking exclusively to a Black audience. The post quickly spread, with some critics accusing the governor of implying that low test scores or difficulty reading made him “like” Black Americans.

Fox News host Sean Hannity amplified the clip, writing that Newsom “Thinks a 960 SAT Makes Him ‘Like’ Black Americans.” Other right-wing figures echoed similar claims, framing the remarks as patronizing.

Some public figures joined the criticism. Rapper Nicki Minaj, who has recently aligned herself with Trump, wrote on X that Newsom’s comments reinforced her negative impression of him, accusing him of using self-deprecation as a way to “bond” with Black audiences. Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina also weighed in, writing, “Black Americans aren’t your low bar.”

Georgia Republican Vernon Jones called the remarks a “masterclass in liberal condescension,” arguing that Newsom was wrongly equating his personal academic struggles with the experiences of Black Georgians.

Newsom, allies call it 'manufactured outrage'

Newsom’s office rejected the accusations outright, saying the viral reaction was driven by selective editing and bad-faith interpretation.

“First MAGA mocked his dyslexia and now they’re calling him racist for talking about his low SAT scores,” Izzy Gardon, a spokesperson for Newsom, told Newsweek. “This is MAGA-manufactured outrage. The governor has said this publicly for years—including with Charlie Kirk and dozens of other audiences.”

Newsom himself responded sharply on X, singling out Hannity and contrasting the reaction to what he described as muted outrage over Trump’s past conduct.

“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 sholes—but you’re going to call me racist for talking about my lifelong struggle with dyslexia?” Newsom wrote. “Spare me your fake f**** outrage.”

Dickens says 'you'll know' if Atlanta is offended

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens also defended Newsom, stressing that critics were ignoring the full context of the conversation.

The mayor took to social media to defend Newsom's comments, saying people should engage with the "full context" and the "complete conversation," not just a clip about Newsom's SAT scores.

"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. That wasn't an attack on anyone. It was a moment of vulnerability about his own journey," Dickens said.

"We've gotten so used to loud, chest-pounding politics that when someone speaks about shortcomings, people try to twist it into something else," he continued. "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."

California Connect contributed to this story.