President Donald Trump sparked a wave of criticism Thursday after using the conclusion of a formal Cabinet meeting to mock California Governor Gavin Newsom’s dyslexia, characterizing the common learning disorder as a “mental disability” that renders the Governor unfit for the presidency.
The remarks, delivered during a 90-minute session primarily focused on immigration and deportation policy, represent a sharp escalation in the personal vitriol between the two potential 2028 rivals. Trump, 79, used a derogatory nickname for the Governor and suggested Newsom’s transparency regarding his reading struggles should disqualify him from national office.
“I don’t want a person with mental disability to be my president,” Trump told reporters. “Gavin Newsom said that he can’t read a speech. He can’t do almost anything.”
A History of Personal Attacks
This is not the first time the President has weaponized Newsom’s neurodivergence. In recent weeks, Trump has intensified his focus on the Governor’s childhood diagnosis as Newsom increases his national profile.
Newsom, 58, has been open about his dyslexia throughout his political career, which includes tenures as Mayor of San Francisco and Lieutenant Governor. Responding on the social media platform X, Newsom framed the President’s comments as a message to others facing similar challenges.
“If you have dyslexia, hear this: bullies will laugh and call you names,” Newsom wrote. “No one — not even the President — decides your worth.”
Media and Political Backlash
The President’s rhetoric drew an immediate rebuke from CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who disclosed his own childhood struggle with mild dyslexia during a Thursday night broadcast. Cooper criticized the President for stigmatizing millions of Americans and noted the historical ignorance of the remarks.
“The president shows his own ignorance when he claims that people living with dyslexia are somehow dumb,” Cooper said, pointing out that Trump’s own former chief economic adviser, Gary Cohn, navigated severe dyslexia to reach the heights of Wall Street and the White House.
Journalistic Context: Dyslexia vs. Intelligence
Medical experts and historians frequently note that dyslexia—a specific learning disability that affects reading and language processing—is unrelated to overall intelligence.
The President’s narrative also ignores his own administration’s past acknowledgments; during Trump’s first term, the White House issued a press release highlighting Gary Cohn’s dyslexia as a testament to his developed memorization skills. Furthermore, historians have long pointed to President Woodrow Wilson as a prominent figure who likely managed the same condition.
As the 2028 election cycle looms, the exchange underscores a shift in political discourse where personal health and neurological profiles are increasingly becoming central targets in high-stakes campaigning.
