California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a man widely thought to harbor White House ambitions, found himself in the familiar modern storm: a viral clip, a moment meant as a connection recast as condescension.
At a book event in Atlanta, speaking with Mayor Andre Dickens, Newsom leaned into self-deprecation, triggering a multitude of racist accusations.
“I’m not, you know, 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,” he said.
Then came the line that traveled.
“You know, I’m a 960 SAT guy. And, you know, and I’m not trying to offend anyone, you know, ‘trying to act all there if you got 940,’” Newsom continued. “Literally a 960 SAT guy, you’ve never seen me read a speech. Because I cannot read a speech. Maybe the wrong business to be in.”
The clip, first circulated by the conservative account End Wokeness, spread quickly, drawing tens of millions of views and a flood of reactions, much of it harsh, some biting.
“His way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can’t read,” Nickii Minaj wrote.
“I can’t believe this is real,” LibsofTikTok posted. “Where’s BLM and Democrats denouncing this racism?”
“He said this to appear down with black folks,” Jennifer Sey wrote. “Could he be more racist?”
“The soft bigotry of low expectations,” Sen. Ted Cruz said.
“This is disqualifying,” Joe Concha argued.
Clay Travis framed the moment more bluntly, asking whether Democratic rivals might use it in a future presidential contest.
“California governor Gavin Newsom tells a black audience he’s just like them, got a 960 SAT, and he can’t read,” Outkick founder Clay Travis posted on X. “Will any Democrats planning to run in 2028 hit on him on this? They should, moronic statement.”
In modern politics, authenticity is demanded, and mistakes are permanent. A single line, meant to lower the speaker, can raise questions about how he sees everyone else.
Watch the clip below:
Gov. Newsom to a black crowd in GA: "I am like you. I'm a 960 SAT guy. I can't read." pic.twitter.com/4Gk0WKbIYz
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 23, 2026
