MLB Star Tommy Pham Accuses Gavin Newsom of Underestimating Black Intelligence
Tommy Pham, a free agent in Major League Baseball, took to social media to express his discontent with California Governor Gavin Newsom's recent remarks aimed at a predominantly Black audience. Pham's critique came after Newsom referenced his low SAT score during an event with Atlanta's mayor, Andre Dickens.
“I was a straight A student and scored well on my SAT,” Pham posted on Instagram, overlaying a clip of Newsom’s comments. “He thinks black ppl are dumb.” The 37-year-old athlete's words resonated with many who felt that Newsom's attempt to connect was misguided.
During the event, Newsom stated, “I’m not trying to impress you. I’m just trying to impress upon you, ‘I’m like you. I’m not better than you.’ I’m a 960 SAT guy.” His comments were intended to convey relatability but instead sparked controversy.
Rapper Nicki Minaj also weighed in, criticizing Newsom on social media. “His way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can’t read,” she tweeted. Minaj further elaborated, “He’s not just TELLING them that they’re all probably stupid & probably can’t read; he’s LITERALLY SLOW-ING-DOWN-HIS-SPEECH to make them understand the words that are coming out of his mouth!!!!”
Minaj's comments highlighted a broader concern about the implications of Newsom's statements. “As if they’re children!!!! That means he REALLY BELIEVES they’re slow,” she continued, questioning the governor's intentions and beliefs.
In response to the backlash, Newsom addressed the criticism in a post on social media, referencing conservative commentator Sean Hannity, who had shared the video clip. The governor explained that his comments were rooted in his personal experience with dyslexia, which was a significant part of his discussion with Dickens.
“You didn’t give a s*** about the President of the United States of America posting an ape video of President Obama or calling African nations s***holes—but you’re going to call me racist for talking about my lifelong struggle with dyslexia?” Newsom retorted, dismissing the outrage as insincere.
Newsom’s remarks come amid speculation about his potential candidacy for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. His comments about race and intelligence have ignited discussions about the perceptions and treatment of Black Americans in political discourse.
In a related incident, former President Donald Trump faced scrutiny for sharing a video that depicted the Obamas in a derogatory manner. Trump later claimed he had not viewed the entire video before passing it along to staff, stating, “It was a very strong post in terms of voter fraud.”
When asked if he would apologize for the video, Trump firmly stated, “No. I didn’t make a mistake” and affirmed his condemnation of its content.
