President Donald Trump riled up California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday night, suggesting the Democrat decided to take his name out of consideration for the 2028 presidential election.
“Wow! Gavin Newscum just dropped out of the Presidential Race!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Newsom has not announced a decision on a 2028 presidential bid, but Trump’s post came as the governor faced criticism for comments he made about his SAT scores and dyslexia to a crowd in Atlanta during his book tour. The president’s Truth Social post caught Newsom’s attention, and the governor quickly responded through his personal and official social media accounts.
“WOW. THE PRESIDENT IS SUNDOWNING HARDER THAN USUAL TONIGHT!!! — GOVERNOR GCN,” wrote on the official account for Newsom’s press office, which regularly mocks Trump’s social media activity. “Sundowning” refers to symptoms that affect many Alzheimer’s patients, such as increased confusion and agitation that usually occur later in the day.
Newsom also joked about the president’s Truth Social post on his personal X account, writing, “It’s on page 69 of my new book. Buy it here.”
Newsom was slammed on Monday after a clip of his book tour event in Atlanta went viral, showing the governor discussing his low SAT score with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens in front of a crowd of Democratic supporters.
“I’m like you. I’m not better than you,” Newsom said. “I’m a 960 SAT guy.”
Conservatives accused Newsom of making the comment in an attempt to pander to black Americans in a city made up of a large black population. In 2024, the average SAT score for black students was 907, while white students scored an average of 1083, according to College Board data.
After making the comment, Newsom added, “I’m not trying to offend anyone and act all there if you got 940. But [I’m] literally a 960 SAT guy.”
Newsom raged against Fox News host Sean Hannity after Hannity said Newsom “thinks a 960 SAT score makes him ‘like’ black Americans. Let that sink in.”
“You didn’t give a sh*t about the President of the United States of America posting an ape video of President Obama or calling African nations sh*tholes — but you’re going to call me racist for talking about my lifelong struggle with dyslexia?” Newsom shot back. “Spare me your fake f*cking outrage, Sean.”
Mayor Dickens defended Newsom after videos of his remark went viral on social media.
“Take it from someone who was actually in the chair asking the questions: context matters more than a headline,” he said. “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 added that people in Atlanta were not offended by the governor’s comment.
“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,” he said. “If you want the full context, watch the full clip, read the book, and engage the complete conversation.”
Newsom is among the favorites to win the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. While he has not officially announced a presidential run, the governor appears to be testing the waters. Newsom launched a nationwide book tour last Saturday to discuss his new memoir with Americans, making his first stop in Nashville.
While in Nashville, Newsom echoed some rhetoric from the far-Left wing of the Democratic Party, praising Democratic socialist Bernie Sanders and saying that America’s economic system “fundamentally has to be reformed.” He also said the next Democratic president should be more aggressive with executive actions, adding, “We are capable of doing much more.”
.png)
.png)
