WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has escalated his long-standing feud with California Governor Gavin Newsom, repeatedly questioning the Democrat's fitness for the presidency by pointing to Newsom's dyslexia as a disqualifying factor. In remarks delivered from the Oval Office on Monday, Trump referred to Newsom using his familiar derogatory nickname, calling him a 'low-IQ person' with 'learning disabilities' and stating bluntly, 'Honestly, I’m all for people with learning disabilities, but not for my president. I don’t want I think the president should not have learning disabilities, okay, and I know it’s highly controversial to say such a horrible thing.'
Trump's comments mark at least the fourth instance in less than a week where he has invoked Newsom's dyslexia to cast doubt on his potential 2028 presidential ambitions. The attacks began last week during a speech in Kentucky, where Trump told supporters that Newsom had 'admitted he has mental problems' and suggested the condition made him unfit for higher office. Newsom's press office fired back swiftly, issuing a statement that read, 'Grandpa’s talking about himself again' and urging Trump to 'seek mental treatment.'
The California governor, who has been open about his dyslexia for years, responded directly to one of Trump's social media posts last week on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter. 'I spoke about my dyslexia. I know that’s hard for a brain-dead moron who bombs children and protects pedophiles to understand,' Newsom wrote, escalating the personal barbs between the two leaders.
Trump doubled down on his criticism in subsequent appearances, including an interview with Fox News radio and during the signing of an executive action on Monday. In the latter event, he added, 'Everything about him is dumb,' reinforcing his portrayal of Newsom as intellectually deficient. These remarks come amid a broader pattern of verbal sparring between Trump and Newsom, who have clashed repeatedly since Trump took office in 2017.
Their rivalry dates back to several high-profile disputes, including Trump's 2018 decision to deploy National Guard troops to Los Angeles to support federal immigration enforcement efforts, a move Newsom vehemently opposed as an overreach into state affairs. Newsom, then California's lieutenant governor, publicly criticized the deployment, arguing it undermined local law enforcement and sowed division. Tensions further escalated during California's devastating wildfires in 2018 and 2020, with Trump accusing Newsom of mismanaging forest resources and exacerbating the blazes through poor environmental policies.
Newsom, 56, has framed his dyslexia not as a hindrance but as a strength. In his memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, released last month, he detailed his childhood struggles with academics, recounting how he was eventually diagnosed with the learning disability. The book, published by a major New York house, chronicles Newsom's rise from a dyslexic student facing ridicule to a prominent political figure who twice won the governorship of the nation's most populous state.
During a February interview with CNN's Dana Bash, Newsom elaborated on how dyslexia shaped his approach to leadership. 'It’s the greatest thing in hindsight to happen to me,' he said. 'I mean, I have the freedom of not having to be stuck on the written text, and the freedom of having to work harder, more reps behind the scenes. I’m doing — if you think you’re working hard, trust me, I’m two to three X in terms of the work.' He added, 'It’s turned out to be a blessing, and in politics, a huge blessing.'
Advocates for dyslexia awareness have long praised Newsom for his candor, noting that the condition affects an estimated 1 in 5 people worldwide and does not correlate with intelligence. Organizations like the International Dyslexia Association have highlighted successful figures with dyslexia, including politicians, entrepreneurs, and celebrities, to combat stigma. Trump's comments, however, echo past instances where he has faced backlash for remarks perceived as insensitive to disabilities.
In 2015, during his first presidential campaign, Trump drew widespread condemnation for appearing to mock a New York Times reporter, Serge Kovaleski, who has a congenital joint condition. At a rally in South Carolina, Trump contorted his face and arms while imitating Kovaleski's physical mannerisms, prompting accusations of ableism from disability rights groups and even some Republican allies. Trump denied intending to mock the reporter's disability, claiming he was merely emphasizing Kovaleski's reporting style, but the incident became a flashpoint in discussions about his rhetoric.
Political analysts suggest Trump's fixation on Newsom's dyslexia may be an early salvo in positioning himself against potential 2028 Democratic contenders, should he seek to influence the Republican primary or maintain his grip on the party's base. Newsom, who successfully recalled a challenge to his governorship in 2021, has been floated as a rising star in Democratic circles, with his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and progressive policies on climate and social issues bolstering his national profile.
White House officials have not commented further on Trump's remarks, but sources close to the president, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the comments as off-the-cuff responses to ongoing media coverage of Newsom's book tour. Meanwhile, Newsom's team in Sacramento emphasized the governor's packed schedule, including a planned trip to Washington next month to discuss federal aid for wildfire recovery. 'Governor Newsom remains focused on delivering for Californians, not engaging in playground taunts from Washington,' a spokesperson said.
The exchange highlights the increasingly personal nature of political discourse in the post-Trump era, where social media amplifies insults and nicknames like 'Newscum' become staples of partisan warfare. Historians of presidential campaigns note that such tactics, while effective in rallying bases, often alienate moderates and invite scrutiny from fact-checkers. Fact-checking organizations, including PolitiFact and The Washington Post's Fact Checker, have previously rated similar Trump statements on opponents' intellect as misleading or false.
As the 2024 election cycle winds down, with Trump victorious, attention shifts to the 2028 horizon. Newsom's dyslexia comments from Trump could galvanize support among disability advocates, who plan to launch a public awareness campaign in response. 'This is a teachable moment,' said Sarah Kline, executive director of a national dyslexia nonprofit, in an interview Tuesday. 'We won't let outdated stereotypes define what leaders can achieve.'
Looking ahead, the feud shows no signs of abating. Trump, who frequently uses his Truth Social platform to target perceived adversaries, posted again about Newsom on Tuesday morning, linking his 'learning issues' to broader criticisms of California's homelessness crisis. Newsom, in turn, is scheduled to appear on a major network Sunday show this weekend, where he is expected to address the controversy head-on.
In the broader context of American politics, Trump's remarks underscore ongoing debates about qualifications for the presidency, from age and health to cognitive fitness. While dyslexia is a protected disability under federal law, no constitutional barrier exists tying learning differences to ineligibility for office. Legal experts, including those from the American Bar Association, affirm that such conditions do not impact one's ability to serve, citing precedents like President Woodrow Wilson, who managed polio-related challenges during his tenure.
Ultimately, the back-and-forth between Trump and Newsom serves as a preview of the combative tone likely to define the next election cycle. With Newsom's national ambitions increasingly evident through his media appearances and policy pushes, Trump's pointed attacks may aim to preemptively undermine his rival's momentum. For now, both men continue their respective paths, with California facing pressing issues like budget shortfalls and housing shortages, while the White House navigates its second-term agenda.