Right-wing influencers troll Gavin Newsom for telling Black crowd 'I'm like you, I can't read'

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: California Governor Gavin Newsom is being widely mocked online after footage circulated showing him telling a predominantly Black audience that he was "like them" because he scored a 960 on the SATs and "can’t read."

The remarks, which Newsom made while interacting with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, were quickly seized upon by conservative commentators and right-wing influencers, including Megyn Kelly, Tomi Lahren, and Brilyn Hollyhand.

They portrayed the moment as patronising, racially insensitive and politically damaging.

Gavin Newsom's comments draw attention

In the clip, Newsom attempts to relate to the audience by describing himself as academically unimpressive. 

"I'm like you. I'm no better than you. I'm a 960 SAT guy. And I'm not trying to act all there if you got a 940, but literally a 960 SAT guy. I cannot...you've never seen me read a speech, because I cannot read. Maybe the wrong business to be in," he told Dickens.

Once shared online, the gaffe became an example of Democrats' clumsy, tone-deaf rhetoric when addressing a Black audience.

Conservatives target Gavin Newsom

The video prompted a wave of mockery and condemnation from prominent conservative voices.

Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly said the clip would “haunt him forever”.

Conservative radio host Mark R Levin argued, "If any Republican said what this m***n Newscum said, their political careers would be over. Let’s see how the Democrats and their media react."

Fox News contributor Tomi Lahren accused Newsom of trying and failing to appear relatable, writing that Democrats were “incapable of being themselves.”

Podcaster Dave Rubin, host of The Rubin Report, described the clip as “the single best example of the soft bigotry of low expectations.”

Rapper Nicki Minaj, recently a vocal ally of President Donald Trump, posted an extended response accusing Newsom of believing Black people are unintelligent.

"His way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can’t read. Do you wanna know the craziest part of this footage that will haunt him forever? He’s literally slowing his speech down & talking in a sporadic cadence," she said.

Minaj went on to claim, "He’s not just TELLING them that they’re all probably stupid & probably can’t read, he’s LITERALLY SLOW-ING-DOWN-HIS-SPEECH to make them understand the words that are coming out of his mouth!!!! As if they’re children!!!!"

Brilyn Hollyhand, a GenZ Republican and Fox News contributor, said, "Gavin Newsom literally just told black people he’s like them because he’s a '960 SAT guy' and 'can’t read'.

He THEN said no offense to those there with a 940 SAT. This is like watching a building catch on fire, collapse, get swallowed by a sinkhole, & get hit by a tsunami."

The episode adds to scrutiny of Newsom’s unscripted public remarks at a time when his national profile is growing, and talks of his run for the presidential elections in 2028 are on the cards.