Newsom has been vying for the Democrat presidential candidacy in 2028. But his ship is sinking fast.
And now Gavin Newsom was smacked in the side of the head by Trump’s latest attack.
Trump’s Blistering Attack on Newsom’s White House Ambitions
President Donald Trump unleashed a pointed critique against California Governor Gavin Newsom, deeming him unsuitable for the presidency amid questions about his cognitive abilities.
Speaking at an event in northern Kentucky, Trump seized on Newsom’s recent admissions in his memoir, portraying them as evidence of deeper issues that could undermine national leadership. This comes as Newsom eyes a potential 2028 run, but Trump’s remarks highlight vulnerabilities that could derail such plans in a state already grappling with persistent challenges under his governance.
“the governor admitted he has mental problems, that he’s not a smart person,” Trump stated.
“He’s unable to read a speech, he can’t read, and all of the other things he said. He said he has a lot of mental problems.” He added, “Nothing’s wrong with it, but I don’t want the President of the United States to have a cognitive deficiency,” and concluded, “When he admitted this, I said, I think he just lost the Democrat nomination.”
Newsom’s Learning Disability Disclosure Under Scrutiny
The comments stem from Newsom’s revelations in his book Young Man in a Hurry, where he detailed his lifelong battle with dyslexia, first diagnosed at age 5 back in 1972.
While intended as a personal anecdote during a promotional event in Atlanta last month, the disclosure has now been weaponized by critics, raising doubts about his readiness for higher office amid California’s ongoing struggles with homelessness and economic woes.
In a defensive retort posted on his press office’s X account, Newsom shared a clip of Trump’s remarks and fired back: “Grandpa’s talking about himself again. We wish him well — it’s never too late to seek mental treatment.”
Escalating Feud Amid Policy Clashes
The back-and-forth is the latest chapter in a heated rivalry between the two figures, with Newsom’s team earlier mocking Trump over a photo showing swollen ankles, posting: “Maybe Trump just assumes everyone else has swollen ankles.”
Shifting focus, Newsom has ramped up his assaults on Trump’s foreign policy, particularly the Middle East conflict, during a press conference announcing new funding for mental health and drug treatment tied to homelessness—a persistent issue that has drawn criticism to his administration.
“Drone issues have been top of mind,” Newsom said. “We’ve been aware of that information, we’ve been working collaboratively with the State Operations Center.”
He admitted not having direct talks with Trump on the matter and accused the White House of escalating a purposeless war that has driven up gas prices: “I haven’t talked to the president directly about this and I wish the president would talk to the American people about what this is all about, what’s the end game?” Newsom continued, “We’ve seen no real end game in sight when it comes to the Strait of Hormuz.”
Emphasizing preparedness, he noted collaborations with international partners and the oil industry for potential shortages: “It’s all about a posture of preparedness for worst-case scenarios,” with “break the glass scenarios” for surging costs. “The questions are in abundance at the moment on what can happen next. We’re meeting consistently with representatives in the oil industry,” he added, before concluding, “Uncertainty is the most certain feature of the Trump administration.”
