You messed up, Gav. Bigly.
Former presidential candidate and Harvard professor Cornel West criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom for remarks the governor made about SAT scores during a speech in Atlanta.
West, in a podcast clip posted to his X account, argued Newsom’s comments reflected harmful assumptions.
“When he thinks of Black people, he thinks of lower SATs,” West said. “That mindset sits at the core of white supremacy — the belief that Black people are less beautiful, less moral, less intelligent! Don’t play with us like that @CAgovernor.”
The criticism follows Newsom’s appearance Sunday night with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens during an event promoting his forthcoming memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, where the governor referenced his SAT score while discussing his background.
“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,” Newsom said.
Newsom then discussed his struggle with dyslexia and other topics addressed in the memoir.
“And I’m not trying to offend anyone,” the governor continued. “I’m not trying to act all there if you got 940 … You’ve never seen me read a speech because I cannot read a speech.”
The remarks drew criticism online, including from Fox News host Sean Hannity, who wrote on X: “@GavinNewsom thinks a 960 SAT Makes Him ‘Like’ Black Americans. Let That Sink In.”
.@GavinNewsom Thinks a 960 SAT Makes Him 'Like' Black Americans. Let That Sink In. pic.twitter.com/6tOo7L3fqr
— Sean Hannity 🇺🇸 (@seanhannity) February 23, 2026
Listen to the clip below:
Brother Newsom could’ve taken a humanistic approach! He could’ve said, “I’m just like you. I was born of a woman. I’ll face loss, pain, and death just like anyone else.” But instead, when he thinks of Black people, he brings up low SAT scores. That mindset sits at the core of… pic.twitter.com/cwRH6wEyKY
— Cornel West (@CornelWest) February 24, 2026
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