Ignorant Trump Called Newsom Low IQ because of his Dyslexia

 

There are moments in the daily news cycle when a single remark says more about the speaker than the subject. Today’s headlines offered one of those moments.

When Donald Trump reportedly referred to Gavin Newsom as “stupid,” citing dyslexia as the reason, I found myself pausing, not out of surprise, but out of concern for what such statements reveal about how we still misunderstand learning differences.

Let us be clear: dyslexia is not a measure of intelligence. It is not a mental disorder. It is a learning difference, one that primarily affects how individuals process written language. To equate dyslexia with a lack of intelligence is not only inaccurate; it is dismissive of millions of capable, accomplished people who simply learn in different ways.

History, as always, provides perspective.

Take Albert Einstein, a name synonymous with genius. While scholars still debate the extent of his dyslexia, he is often cited as someone who struggled with conventional learning methods yet reshaped our understanding of the universe. His story, like many others, reminds us that brilliance does not always conform to traditional academic molds.

And Einstein is hardly alone. Entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, and public servants across generations have demonstrated that dyslexia can coexist with extraordinary achievement. In fact, many individuals with dyslexia develop heightened problem-solving abilities, creativity, and resilience, traits that are invaluable in leadership.

Which brings me back to the present moment.

We live in a time when words carry immense weight. Public figures, especially those who have held the highest office in the land, have a responsibility to elevate discourse, not diminish it. When learning differences are used as insults, it reinforces outdated stereotypes and discourages those who already face unnecessary obstacles.

In my years of writing and in life more broadly, I have come to appreciate that intelligence wears many faces. Some express it through eloquent speech, others through analytical precision, and still others through quiet perseverance. To reduce a person to a label, particularly one misunderstood, is to overlook the richness of human capability.

Perhaps the real issue here is not dyslexia at all, but our lingering tendency to equate difference with deficiency.

As someone who has spent years reflecting on the human condition through this blog, I am reminded again that empathy and understanding are learned behaviors. They require effort, curiosity, and humility, qualities that, unfortunately, seem in short supply in much of today’s political rhetoric.

In the end, the measure of a person, whether a governor, a president, or a private citizen, is not how closely they fit a conventional mold, but how effectively they think, lead, and contribute.

Dyslexia does not diminish those qualities. Ignorance, however, just might.

Based on reports from March 2026, President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked California Governor Gavin Newsom over his dyslexia, calling the governor "dumb" and suggesting that a person with such a learning disability should not be president

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Key Details of the Situation:

• Trump's Comments: Speaking in the Oval Office and to reporters around March 16, 2026, President Trump said, "Honestly, I'm all for people with learning disabilities, but not for my president... I think a president should not have learning disabilities". He has described Newsom as a "cognitive mess" and "dumb," frequently bringing up the governor's open discussions about his struggle with dyslexia.
• Newsom's Response: Governor Newsom, a possible 2028 presidential candidate, has described his dyslexia as a "superpower" that forced him to work harder and developed his skills in communication, rather than relying on written text. Following the attacks, Newsom said on social media, "Dyslexia isn't a weakness. It's your strength".
• Context: Dyslexia is recognized by experts as a common learning disorder related to processing language, not a mental disorder or a measure of intelligence. Many, including disability advocates, condemned Trump’s remarks, noting that it does not impair a person’s capability to lead.
• Historical Context: Critics of the President's comments have pointed out that several U.S. presidents, such as George Washington, may have had dyslexia, and many successful figures in science and business have thrived with the condition. 

As of late March 2026, this exchange has fueled ongoing political tension between the two, with Newsom’s aides highlighting that the governor uses special formatting to manage his dyslexia in his work.