Gavin Newsom Slams Fox News for ‘Exploiting’ His SAT Remarks While Overlooking Trump’s Controversial Comments

California Governor Gavin Newsom took aim at Fox News and its supporters after they labeled him racist for discussing his low SAT score during a book promotion event in Atlanta. The backlash followed remarks made by Newsom that were deemed “offensive” by some Fox personalities.

Fox host Sean Hannity shared a selectively edited clip of Newsom’s comments on social media, prompting the governor to respond directly, calling out the “fake outrage” surrounding his statements.

In the clip, Newsom told Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, “I’m not trying to impress you. I’m just trying to impress upon you, I’m like you. I’m no better than you. I’m a 960 SAT guy.” He added that he didn’t intend to offend anyone, referencing his academic struggles.

However, the full context of his remarks, which Hannity omitted, included Newsom discussing his ongoing challenges with dyslexia. This nuance was lost in the edited version shared by Hannity.

During an appearance on MS NOW’s “The Briefing with Jen Psaki,” Newsom criticized his detractors for ignoring their party's history of racism while failing to acknowledge similar comments he made previously to conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

“They didn’t say it when I talked to Charlie Kirk and said the exact same thing,” he noted, emphasizing the inconsistency in their reactions. “It was a hell of a statement, particularly for people that have been countenancing racism in their party for decades.”

Newsom specifically called out Hannity and other Fox hosts for their silence on racist content directed at former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, including a controversial video shared by Donald Trump earlier this month.

“Not a word said … instead they were offended by someone who writes a book about learning disabilities,” he remarked, criticizing the network's selective outrage. “That’s a hell of a statement of the weaponization and the propaganda — the network, this machine that these folks have.”

In response, Hannity took to social media to counter Newsom’s claims, accusing him of being a key supporter of President Biden and ignoring Biden’s alleged failures regarding immigration and crime.

“You were silent about his cognitive decline even after his disastrous debate,” Hannity wrote, asserting that Newsom enabled harmful policies in California. He further criticized Newsom for supporting Biden’s past associations with controversial figures.

Newsom concluded by asserting that traditional political strategies are ineffective against the current political climate shaped by Trump. “The Right is ruthless. They’re shapeshifting the conversation … We’ve got to stay vigilant,” he stated, underscoring the need for Democrats to adapt to these challenges.

For more insights from Newsom’s interview, viewers can watch the full segment online, starting at the 4:38 mark for his remarks.