\n President Donald Trump has repeatedly taken aim at Democratic rival and possible 2028 presidential candidate Gavin Newsom. But lately, he\u2019s become fixated on saying the California governor cannot be president due to his \u201clearning disability.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n Newsom has been open about his struggle with dyslexia.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cWe have a low-IQ person, you know, because Gavin Newscum has admitted that he is a \u2014 that he has learning disabilities,\u201d Trump, using a nickname he\u2019s coined to refer to Newsom, told reporters in the Oval Office Monday. \u201cHonestly, I\u2019m all for people with learning disabilities, but not for my president. I don\u2019t want I think the president should not have learning disabilities, okay, and I know it\u2019s highly controversial to say such a horrible thing.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cEverything about him is dumb,\u201d Trump later added. It\u2019s at least the fourth time he\u2019s made comments about Newsom having a \u201clearning disability\u201d in less than a week.\n <\/p>\n
\n Trump and Newsom have sparred repeatedly through the years over a range of issues, including Trump\u2019s move to deploy National Guard troops to Los Angeles to assist with federal immigration enforcement, Newsom\u2019s handling of California wildfires, and more. But Trump\u2019s comments mark a new point in an already acrimonious relationship.\n <\/p>\n
\n Trump first referenced Newsom\u2019s dyslexia during remarks from Kentucky last week, where he told an audience of supporters Newsom has \u201cadmitted he has mental problems,\u201d before suggesting his dyslexia was disqualifying for a presidential run. Newsom\u2019s press office quickly responded that \u201cGrandpa\u2019s talking about himself again\u201d and encouraged him to \u201cseek mental treatment.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n Since then, Trump has repeated the comments at least three times, including on social media<\/a>, in an interview with Fox News radio<\/a>, and again Monday during an executive action signing.\n <\/p>\n \n Newsom also responded to Trump\u2019s social media post last week, firing back on X<\/a>, \u201cI spoke about my dyslexia. I know that\u2019s hard for a brain-dead moron who bombs children and protects pedophiles to understand.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n In his memoir released last month<\/a>, \u201cYoung Man in a Hurry,\u201d Newsom writes he struggled academically during his childhood and was eventually diagnosed with dyslexia. In a February interview with CNN\u2019s Dana Bash<\/a>, Newsom described his dyslexia as a \u201csuperpower<\/a>.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cIt\u2019s the greatest thing in hindsight to happen to me,\u201d Newsom said. \u201cI mean, I have the freedom of not having to be stuck on the written text, and the freedom of having to work harder, more reps behind the scenes. I\u2019m doing \u2014 if you think you\u2019re working hard, trust me, I\u2019m two to three X in terms of the work.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cIt\u2019s turned out to be a blessing, and in politics, a huge blessing,\u201d he added.\n <\/p>\n