President Trump ‘demands’ countries help protect Strait of Hormuz
Trump pushes countries to help secure the Strait of Hormuz amid rising Middle East tensions and stalled international commitments.
President Donald Trump said presidents should not have a “learning disability,” specifically taking aim at California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a possible 2028 presidential candidate who has spoken openly about his dyslexia.
Newsom specifically dedicated a section of his memoir, “Young Man in a Hurry,” to share how he coped with the learning disorder, which affects a person’s ability to read, write and spell.
“We have a low-IQ person,” Trump said while referencing Newsom to reporters in the Oval Office on March 17. “Honestly, I am all for people with learning disabilities, but not for my president. I don’t think a president should have a learning disability.”
“Everything about him is dumb,” Trump added.
Newsom responded to Trump’s remarks by defending himself and those with disabilities.
“To every kid with a learning disability: don’t let anyone — not even the President of the United States — bully you. Dyslexia isn’t a weakness. It’s your strength,” Newsom posted on X.
Trump’s comments stemmed from a February discussion between Newsom and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens as part of the governor’s book tour, during which Newsom discussed his struggle with dyslexia, a low SAT score and difficulty reading speeches.
Trump, who refers to the California governor as “Gavin Newscum,” called the interview “the most self-destructive interview I’ve ever seen.”
“In one fell swoop, he took himself out of even being considered as the Presidential Nominee of the Crazy (as proven at the State of the Union Address) Democrats. He said, in a speech, he was dumb, had low Boards, can’t read, has dyslexia, and has a mental disorder — A Cognitive Mess,” Trump posted on Truth Social on March 11.
In response to Trump’s post, Newsom defended himself while also criticizing Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran.
“I spoke about my dyslexia. I know that’s hard for a brain-dead moron who bombs children and protects pedophiles to understand,” Newsom posted on X.
Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at npadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.