California Governor Gavin Newsom faced widespread criticism after a viral video in which he claimed to share commonalities with the Black community by referencing his low SAT score. The clip, which has been viewed over 35 million times, was recorded during a 2028 presidential campaign event at the Rialto Center for the Arts in Atlanta, where Newsom sat beside Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.

Newsom’s Attempt at Relatability

During the event, Newsom was asked what he hoped readers would take from his book, Young Man in a Hurry. He responded by emphasizing a narrative of shared struggle, stating, ‘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.’

Newsom further compounded the moment by stating, ‘You’ve never seen me read a speech, because I cannot read a speech. Maybe the wrong business to be in.’ The live audience chuckled, but the digital sphere erupted with outrage.

Mathematical Misstep

The core of the outrage lies in the governor’s chosen point of connection: standardized test scores and reading ability. According to the College Board, the 2024 national average SAT score is 1024. The average for Black test-takers is 907. Newsom’s score of 960, which he presented as a badge of commonality, is actually above the average for the very group he sought to identify with.

This mathematical reality transformed his self-deprecation into a moment of profound political misjudgment, leading critics to ask what specific trait he believed he shared with the Atlanta community.

Political Rebranding

This incident is not a simple gaffe; it is a window into a calculated political rebranding effort, where humility is feigned to appeal to disillusioned voters. Newsom is on a multi-state tour, endorsing candidates and selling a memoir that reframes his biography, all while speculation about a future presidential run intensifies.

He is actively working to undo the growing national perception of him as the architect of California’s decline — a governor who enforced brutal lockdowns, watched as crime and homelessness soared, and presided over an exodus of residents and businesses.

His attempt in Atlanta was to trade the image of a polished, Napa Valley winery owner with a net worth in the tens of millions for that of a relatable every-man. He wanted to discuss frozen lasagna, not the shuttered storefronts in San Francisco where office vacancy rates have exploded to 34.5%.

Swift Backlash

The backlash was swift and pointed. The Trump campaign accused Newsom of calling ‘black people dumb.’ Political commentator Sean Hannity posted, ‘Newsom Thinks a 960 SAT Makes Him ‘Like’ Black Americans. Let That Sink In.’

Newsom fired back with characteristic aggression, but the damage to his repackaging effort was done. The moment echoes the failed rhetoric of other elites, like Joe Biden’s 2019 comment that ‘poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids,’ which similarly reduced intellect to a racial and class-based framework.

For Americans watching, the lesson is clear. While the political class engages in awkward performances of false kinship, the real world suffers the consequences of their governance. As banks teeter and a commercial real estate crisis looms, the nation needs leaders with proven competence and moral clarity, not those who believe a well-told story about a bad test score can compensate for a legacy of failure.

Newsom’s Atlanta appearance proves he is no longer a master of image. His slick political facade is cracking, as millions live with the results of his failed policies. The image is eroding, revealing the grim reality beneath the polished surface.