Nicki Minaj sharply criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom on after a clip surfaced of him speaking to a predominantly Black audience in Atlanta. In a post shared on social media, Minaj accused Newsom of deliberately slowing his speech to convey a sense that the audience could not understand him. “His way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can’t read,” she wrote. She added that Newsom had been “handed so many things & put in high positions he never earned or deserved” and described his cadence as a deliberate attempt to imply the audience was incapable of understanding his words. Minaj concluded by urging Black Americans to recognize what she framed as condescension: “He’s LITERALLY SLOW-ING-DOWN-HIS-SPEECH to make them understand the words that are coming out of his mouth!!!! As if they’re children!!!! That means he REALLY BELIEVES they’re slow.”
His way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can’t read.
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) February 23, 2026
This means my first read on him was correct. He’s been handed so many things & put in high positions he never earned or deserved.
Do you wanna know the craziest part of this footage that… https://t.co/llo1k7F7wB
The clip that prompted Minaj’s reaction showed Newsom addressing the crowd during his Atlanta stop on a book tour promoting his memoir, Young Man in a Hurry. Speaking candidly about his lifelong struggle with dyslexia, Newsom described himself as a “960 SAT guy” and explained that he has difficulty reading speeches aloud. He recounted his educational challenges, including frequent school changes and sitting in the back of classrooms to avoid being called on. “I cannot—you’ve never seen me read a speech—because I cannot read a speech. Maybe the wrong business to be in. Uh, you know, my dyslexia, I haven’t overcome dyslexia. I’m living with it,” Newsom said. His remarks were framed as a personal attempt to connect with the audience and encourage reflection on shared challenges and perseverance.
Gov. Newsom to a black crowd in GA: "I am like you. I'm a 960 SAT guy. I can't read." pic.twitter.com/4Gk0WKbIYz
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 23, 2026
Newsom’s Atlanta address also touched on broader political themes, including civic engagement, voter participation, and leadership. He highlighted historical and contemporary efforts to intimidate voters and suppress civic expression, encouraging the audience to remain vigilant and involved in the democratic process. By openly discussing his vulnerabilities alongside his professional achievements, Newsom positioned his memoir and tour as both a personal journey and a call to civic action, seeking to resonate with audiences beyond California.
Minaj’s criticism came within the context of her well-documented political engagement, particularly her vocal support for President Donald Trump. She has repeatedly expressed unwavering loyalty to Trump, most notably during a public appearance at a Trump event where she called herself “probably the president’s number one fan.” At that event, she framed criticism of Trump as motivation rather than deterrent, asserting that “the hate or what people have to say…actually motivates me to support him more and it’s going to motivate all of us to support him more.”
Nicki Minaj: I am probably the president's number one fan. That's not going to change. And the hate or what people have to say does not affect me at all. It actually motivates me to support him more. We won't let them get away with bullying him. God is protecting him. pic.twitter.com/872R9Lzo0C
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 28, 2026
Over recent months, Minaj has consistently positioned herself against protests or demonstrations that she perceives as disrespectful or performative, particularly when they target religious spaces or public figures she supports. Her response to Newsom’s remarks fits this pattern, using her platform to call out what she views as condescension and to assert her perspective on political and cultural dynamics. By combining celebrity influence with pointed political commentary, Minaj has ensured her voice remains a prominent presence in national discourse, framing her support for Trump and criticism of opponents alike with direct and uncompromising language.
