California Gov. Gavin Newsom scored a viral comeback on Monday after Fox News tried to mock him over his dyslexia, turning the jab back on President Donald Trump with a sharp, widely shared response.
Newsom shared a clip on X of Fox News host Jesse Watters discussing the governor’s recent book tour stop in Atlanta. In the video, Newsom spoke to Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens about his dyslexia, saying, “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.”
He added that because of his learning disability, he rarely reads prepared speeches. “Literally a 960 guy, I can’t—you’ve never seen me read a speech, because I cannot read a speech: maybe the wrong business to be in,” Newsom said.
Conservative commentators quickly criticized the remarks, with Watters saying on his show, “I don’t want a president who scores poorly, I don’t want a president who struggles to read. I want a really smart president.”
Newsom’s response was succinct: “Jesse, you already have one.” The comment went viral and has been widely circulated on social media.
The jab comes amid longstanding reports that Trump struggles with lengthy or text-heavy materials. The Washington Post reported in 2018 that Trump rarely read the daily intelligence briefings he received, instead receiving oral briefings on selected issues. The New York Times noted that National Security Council staff were instructed to limit policy documents to a single page and use visuals such as charts and maps. Mother Jones reported that Trump’s intelligence briefings were only about one-quarter the length of those prepared for former President Barack Obama.
Books including Michael Wolff’s Fire and Fury have described Trump as someone who “didn’t process information in any conventional sense” and “didn’t really even skim.”
Newsom’s jab is one of several recent attacks on Trump as the California governor eyes a potential 2028 presidential bid. In recent months, he has repeatedly mocked Trump’s leadership style and decisions, often using memes and social media posts to deliver his critiques.
Watch the clip and Newsom’s response below:
Watters: I don’t want a president who struggles to read. pic.twitter.com/57CqBxIwcj
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 23, 2026
