President Donald Trump ripped into Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom for remarks he made last month about dyslexia, calling it a "politically suicidal act" for the California lawmaker.
Trump's remarks come after conservatives intensified attacks over Newsom's comments regarding his dyslexia and SAT scores during a book-tour event in Atlanta.
Newsweek reached out to Newsom's office via email on Wednesday night for comment.
The clash underscores Newsom's growing national profile ahead of a widely anticipated 2028 presidential bid and highlights continued friction between the California governor and Trump's political movement over culture-war issues.
Newsom discussed his lifelong struggle with dyslexia while speaking with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens at the Rialto Center for the Arts in February. "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. You know, I'm a 960 SAT guy," later adding, "You've never seen me read a speech, because I cannot read a speech."
Critics called Newsom's remarks racist after a brief clip shared by conservative End Wokeness on X went viral, with a caption saying the governor was addressing a Black crowd. But a signifiant number of white guests amid a diverse audience were portrayed in a video on social media.
The governor has previously framed his dyslexia as shaping his political style, noting he relies on extensive preparation, themes he also emphasized in recent interviews discussing his new memoir, Young Man in a Hurry.
The uproar follows months of public back-and-forth between Trump and Newsom on a plethora of policy issues and as rumors swirl of the Democrat's potential run for president.
In a post to Truth Social on Wednesday, the president said, "Gavin Newscum's interview weeks ago was, perhaps, the most self destructive interview I've ever seen. In one fell swoop, he took himself out of even being considered as the Presidential Nominee of the Crazy (as proven at the State of the Union Address) Democrats. He said, in a speech, he was dumb, had low Boards, can't read, has dyslexia, and has a mental disorder -- A Cognitive Mess!"
Trump continued, "On top of that, Black People are angry because he is obviously a racist. While we all want to be politically correct, having a mental disorder is not a positive campaign event. Also, this was a politically suicidal act. The only thing he didn't say is he is losing his look, but nobody wants to say that about one's self. He is no longer a viable Presidential Candidate! President DJT"
Trump also spoke about Newsom during his stop in Kentucky on Wednesday, saying in part, "I don't want the President of the United States to have a cognitive deficiency."
Newsom reacted to Trump's dig in Ohio on X, saying, "I spoke about my dyslexia. I know that's hard for a brain-dead moron who bombs children and protects pedophiles to understand."
Governor Newsom's Press Office on X, reacting to a video of Trump speaking in Ohio on Wednesday: "Grandpa's talking about himself again. We wish him well -- it's never too late to seek mental treatment."
Dickens, in an Instagram post in February after his conversation withNewsom: "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.
"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."
It is immediately unknown if Newsom will announce his bid to run in the 2028 presidential election. Candidates usually make announcements after midterm election cycles.