California Governor Gavin Newsom stepped into a firestorm during a recent stop in Atlanta, where he attempted to bond with a predominantly black audience by admitting his low SAT score and claiming he “can’t read.”

The remarks, captured on video, drew swift backlash for their patronizing tone, with rap icon Nicki Minaj leading the charge in calling out what many see as embedded leftist elitism toward minority communities.

The exchange serves as yet another window into the Democrat playbook that assumes black voters need to be talked down to, echoing the same arrogance that dismisses concerns over voter ID as too burdensome for “those people.”

? HOLY SMOKES. Gavin Newsom actually said this to a predominantly black crowd“I’m like you. 960 SAT guy…I can’t read…”Is this his 2028 platform? “Minorities are dumb?”They:– Can’t read– Can’t get ID– Can’t prove citizenshipUNREAL.pic.twitter.com/bP03HA4xo6

The incident unfolded as Newsom addressed a crowd in Georgia alongside Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. In footage that quickly went viral, the governor said, “I’m like you. 960 SAT guy…I can’t read…”

Conservative commentator Eric Daugherty shared the clip on X, questioning if this was Newsom’s pitch for a potential 2028 presidential run: “Is this his 2028 platform? ‘Minorities are dumb?’ They: – Can’t read – Can’t get ID – Can’t prove citizenship UNREAL.”

But it was Nicki Minaj’s scorching response that amplified the outrage. The artist, known for her no-holds-barred commentary, posted a detailed critique on X, pulling no punches.

“His way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can’t read. This means my first read on him was correct. He’s been handed so many things & put in high positions he never earned or deserved,” Minaj wrote.

His way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can’t read.This means my first read on him was correct. He’s been handed so many things & put in high positions he never earned or deserved.Do you wanna know the craziest part of this footage that…https://t.co/llo1k7F7wB

She didn’t stop there, zeroing in on Newsom’s delivery: “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.”

Source: modernity