President Trump made the remarks to reporters in the Oval Office while discussing voter identification policies in California and criticizing Newsom, who is widely viewed as a potential Democratic presidential contender in 2028.

The California governor has said he was diagnosed with dyslexia at age five, a detail Trump has previously used to question his fitness for higher office.

During the Oval Office remarks, Trump referenced comments Newsom made last month at an event promoting his memoir, Young Man in a Hurry. Speaking to Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Newsom said, “I’m just trying to impress upon you, I’m like you. I’m no better than you. You know, I’m a 960 SAT guy.”

Trump said, using a nickname he frequently applies to the governor, “Gavin Newscum has admitted that he has learning disabilities. Honestly, I’m all for people with learning disabilities, but not for my president. I think a president should not have learning disabilities, OK?”

He added, “And I know it’s highly controversial to say such a horrible thing. The president of the United States, Gavin Newscum, admitted that he has learning disabilities, dyslexia. Everything about him is dumb.”

Earlier this month, Trump also called Newsom “A Cognitive Mess!” and said the governor had a “mental disorder” in a post on Truth Social.

White House spokesman Davis Ingle defended the president’s remarks, saying Newsom “is the worst governor in America, and he also may be the dumbest.”

Newsom’s office mocked the criticism. Spokesman Izzy Gardon posted on X, writing, “Donald Trump calls Gavin Newsom the President of the United States.”

Newsom has also faced scrutiny from some conservatives over his Atlanta remarks regarding his SAT score, which critics argued could invoke racial stereotypes.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has served since 2019 and remains a potential contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.