California Governor Gavin Newsom has responded after President Donald Trump used his Cabinet meeting to label him stupid.
During the televised briefing, which ran for over 90 minutes, Trump said that Newsom took himself out of the running for president when he revealed his “mental disability.”
“You don't want to have a person with a mental disability being your president,” the 79-year-old president said. “And Gavin Newsom said he can't read a speech, he’s actually a very stupid person.”
The governor, an outspoken Trump critic who is seen as a contender for the Democratic nomination in 2028, has said he was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child.
"I'm the only president that ever took a cognitive test,” Trump added. “I took it three times. It's actually a very hard test for a lot of people. It wasn't hard for me.”
Shortly after, Newsom responded by posting an image on X of a fake cognitive exam. “FALSE,” he wrote. “Gavin Newsom is highly intelligent.”
The Cabinet meeting comes as the DHS shutdown has now dragged on for 40 days, resulting in lengthy lines and missed flights at airports. Trump blamed congressional Democrats for the funding lapse, accusing them of trying to punish the American people and help criminals.
He also declared victory over Iran amidst the ongoing war, claiming the country’s regime has been “decisively defeated.” He added that Iran now has an opportunity to negotiate a peace deal.
Key Points
- Hegseth: 'The Department of War will continue negotiating with bombs'
- Pete Hegseth lashes out at the media, accusing them of having Trump derangement syndrome
- Trump says US is destroying Iran's military, calls their leaders 'sick, sinister people'
- Trump indicates Nicolas Maduro could face additional charges
Trump claims his popularity at all-time high despite polls showing the opposite in rambling Fox News interview
22:25 , Andrew FeinbergPresident Donald Trump on Thursday claimed to be more popular than at any point in his decade-long political career despite multiple recent polls showing he has never been more unpopular with American voters.
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Trump claims his popularity at all-time high despite polls showing the opposite
Trump predicts next president will be a Republican
22:06 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump told Fox News he believes his successor will be a Republican — but didn’t provide additional specifics.
“I would say that it will be a Republican. I really believe that, and I think it'll be a good one,” he said. “I think we have a combination of people that would be very good.”
His remarks come amid growing speculation about the potential 2028 presidential candidates.
Vice President JD Vance has long been considered a potential front-runner for the Republican nomination, should he decide to run.
However, reports have also indicated there’s growing support for Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
President labels Gavin Newsom 'mentally incompetent'
21:59 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump called California Governor Gavin Newsom “mentally incompetent” during a live phone interview with Fox News.
This comes after Trump claimed Newsom had a “mental disability” during a cabinet meeting earlier Thursday.
“You don't want to have a person with a mental disability being your president,” the president told reporters. “And Gavin Newsom said he can't read a speech, he’s actually a very stupid person.”
Newsom, who has previously said he was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, was quick to respond to Trump’s insults.
“Why does he keep bringing this up? Only one answer: Donald Trump is definitely dyslexic,” he wrote on X.
Trump reiterates opposition to mail-in ballots, despite voting by mail himself
21:50 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump once again reiterated his opposition to mail-in voting during a live phone interview with Fox News.
“I'd vote on no mail-in ballots other than if you're, you know, military, or you're ill or you're traveling,” Trump told the outlet.
The president defended his own use of mail-in voting during a cabinet meeting earlier Thursday.
”Because of the fact that I’m president of the United States, I did a mail-in ballot for elections that took place in Florida, because I felt I should be here instead of being in the beautiful sunshine,” he said.
Trump tells Fox News he did 'very well with the gay vote'
21:41 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump told Fox News he did “very well with the gay vote” during a live phone interview Thursday evening.
“I even played the gay national anthem as my walk-off, and I think it probably helped me,” Trump said, apparently referring to the Village People’s hit song, “Y.M.C.A.”
”No Republicans ever gotten the gay vote like I did, and I'm very proud of it,” he added.
Trump rails against 'fake polls' and claims he's more popular than ever
21:34 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump railed against “fake polls” during a live phone interview with Fox News on Thursday evening.
“I hate people that use fake polls, because polls are just like bad journalists. You know, bad journalists, they write fake stories. Well, fake polls do damage also,” he said.
Trump also claimed he’s “more popular than I ever have been” — just days after a Reuters/Ipsos poll found his overall approval rating dropped to its lowest point since he took office last year.
Property President! Trump now eyes Treaty Room for latest makeover project at the White House
21:24 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump has eyed the Treaty Room for his latest makeover project at the White House, according to a new report.
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Trump now eyes Treaty Room for latest makeover project at the White House
Trump open to moving NYC’s gigantic Madison Square Garden for train station renovations: report
21:11 , Brendan RasciusAs a real estate magnate, Donald Trump helped shape New York City’s skyline through the development of a number of skyscrapers. Now, as president, he’s shown interest in another bold project: relocating Madison Square Garden, one of the city’s most well-known landmarks.
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Trump open to moving Madison Square Garden to make room for new Penn Station: report
Gavin Newsom responds to Trump calling him 'mentally disabled'
19:10 , Brendan RasciusCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom has responded to President Donald Trump calling him “mentally disabled.”
“You don't want to have a person with a mental disability being your president,” Trump said during his Cabinet meeting on Thursday. “And Gavin Newsom said he can't read a speech, he’s actually a very stupid person.”
He appeared to be referring to the fact that Newsom has said he was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child.
The Democratic governor, viewed by some as a contender for the party’s nomination in 2028, responded by posting an image on X of a fake cognitive exam.
“FALSE! Gavin Newsom is highly intelligent,” he wrote.
FALSE! Gavin Newsom is highly intelligent. https://t.co/00RqsQ2G2n pic.twitter.com/99rN9H0llK
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) March 26, 2026
Vance alludes to possibility of Iran using suicide vests that could kill 'many tens of thousands'
18:41 , Brendan RasciusDuring the Cabinet meeting on Thursday morning, Vice President JD Vance appeared to allude to the possibility that Iran could deploy catastrophic suicide vests.
“You talk about people who walk into a crowded supermarket and have a vest on, and they blow up the vest and a couple of people get killed, and that's a terrible tragedy,” the vice president said.
He continued: “What happens when what's on the vest is not something that can kill a couple of people, but can kill many, many tens of thousands of people?”
Later, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that if Iran had “a nuclear weapon, they could kill millions of Americans in the future.”
Thursday's Cabinet meeting was Markwayne Mullin's first
17:52 , Brendan RasciusThursday’s Cabinet meeting was the first to be attended by DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who was sworn in on Tuesday, replacing Kristi Noem.
Mullin, a former senator from Oklahoma, faced a combative confirmation hearing last week, where he was asked questions about his character and temperament.
“I can have different opinions with everybody in this room, but as secretary of homeland I’ll be protecting everybody,” he said during the hearing.
He was confirmed in a 54-45 vote, which largely broke along partisan lines.
White House continues to pin the blame for the DHS shutdown on Democrats
17:35 , Brendan RasciusThe White House has continued to pin the blame for the Department of Homeland Security shutdown on Democrats.
In a post on X that included photos of long airport lines, the official White House account wrote: “Day 41: THANK A DEMOCRAT.”
Day 41: THANK A DEMOCRAT. https://t.co/ebUkpAaomk
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 26, 2026
Rubio applauds Trump's military offensive in Iran
17:15 , Brendan RasciusSecretary of State Marco Rubio applauded Trump’s military campaign against Iran, stating that he did what his predecessors refused to do.
“For 47 years, Iran has been killing and attacking Americans across this planet,” Rubio said during the meeting. “Other presidents had an opportunity to do something and they refused to act. This President will not leave a danger like this in place, but will address it. That’s what he’s doing.”
Trump said someone complained to him about Hegseth: ‘He gave you such a nasty hard time’
16:46 , Brendan RasciusPresident Trump recounted an incident where someone approached him and complained about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s performance.
“I’ll tell you, somebody came up to me yesterday and gave you a very hard time and said, you know, I made a mistake,” the president said while gesturing towards Hegseth, who was seated next to him.
“When I tell you who you’re not even gonna believe it. He gave you such a nasty hard time,” he said.
Earlier, the president expressed confidence in his defense secretary, describing him as being “born for this role.”
Trump says taking Iran's oil is 'an option'
16:37 , Brendan RasciusDuring the Cabinet meeting, the president was asked by a reporter whether he would seize Iran’s oil.
“It’s an option,” Trump responded. “I mean, I wouldn't talk about it, but it’s an option.”
VIDEO: Trump fails to explain why he voted by mail despite calling it cheating
16:32 , Brendan RasciusDuring the meeting, President Trump failed to explain why he voted by mail in Florida’s special election this week despite calling the practice a form of cheating.
Trump reveals ‘present’ he claims Iran gave him in negotiations to end war
16:30 , Brendan RasciusPresident Donald Trump claims the Iranian government has gifted him eight fully-laden oil tankers that were allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz under a Pakistani flag this week as a good-faith gesture in talks to end the war he started nearly four weeks ago.
Speaking during a marathon cabinet meeting, Trump said Iran had offered the precious cargo as part of the ongoing indirect talks that are currently being facilitated by Islamabad after he was asked about his prior claim to have received a “present” from Tehran.
Andrew Feinberg reports...
Trump reveals ‘present’ he claims Iran gave him in negotiations to end war
Trump says Gavin Newsom's 'mental disability' disqualifies him from the presidency
16:17 , Brendan RasciusPresident Trump said that California Governor Gavin Newsom, whom he derisively refers to as “Newscum,” took himself out of the running for president when he revealed his “mental disability.”
“He’s actually a very stupid person,” Trump said.
Newsom has said that he was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child.
Doug Burgum claims that a statue of Trump may be erected in Venezuela
16:08 , Brendan RasciusInterior Secretary Doug Burgum claimed that a statue of President Trump may be erected in Venezuela.
“I literally think they're going to put up a statue to President Trump,” he said, stating that Venezuelans view Trump as comparable to Simon Bolivar.
“That would be great,” Trump responded.
‘Could only happen to Trump’: President hijacks Cabinet meeting to cry about lawsuits over his radical DC plans
16:05 , Brendan RasciusPresident Donald Trump spent roughly 15 minutes of a cabinet meeting on Thursday complaining about a historic preservation group’s efforts to block him from shutting down the Kennedy Center for a purported reservation and grousing about the Justice Department being unable to prosecute the chairman of the Federal Reserve on fabricated charges.
The president was in the middle of a long soliloquy about fixing up the Washington, DC-based arts center — which was built as a memorial to his assassinated predecessor — when he began to claim the controversial renovation would be “under budget, ahead of schedule” and unfavorably compared the project to the long-running rehab of the nearly century-old Federal Reserve headquarters.
Andrew Feinberg reports...
Trump hijacks Cabinet meeting to cry about lawsuits over his radical DC plans
Trump says he believes the Strait of Hormuz may soon be opened
15:58 , Brendan RasciusTrump said he believes the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery of global trade, could soon be reopened.
“I have a feeling it’s going to clean up pretty quickly,” the president said during Thursday’s Cabinet meeting.
He pointed out that the challenge with the strait lies in the fact that even one strike on a vessel could prove disastrous, considering the immense cost of each ship.
Trump reveals the 'present' he received from Iran
15:49 , Brendan RasciusTrump said the "present" he received from Iran, which he previously alluded to, was allowing eight oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump jokes that the next Fed chairman may have to work 'in the basement of the ballroom'
15:29 , Brendan RasciusPresident Trump heavily criticized the costly renovation of the Federal Reserve’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., calling it wasteful.
The renovations are so bad, Trump said, that Kevin Warsh, his nominee for Federal Reserve chairman, may have to work in the White House.
“We’ll put him in the basement of the ballroom,” Trump joked.
Hegseth: 'The Department of War will continue negotiating with bombs'
15:15 , Brendan Rascius“We are here to win, and we’re full speed ahead,” Hegseth said of the war in Iran. “The Department of War will continue negotiating with bombs.”
He added that the Iranian government is “privately admitting very heavy losses.”
Pete Hegseth lashes out at the media, accusing them of having Trump derangement syndrome
15:12 , Brendan RasciusDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth chastised members of the media over their coverage over the Iran war, saying they have Trump derangement syndrome in their “DNA.”
IN PHOTOS: Trump kicks of Cabinet meeting with Rubio, Hegseth and others
15:09 , Brendan Rascius
Trump indicates Nicolas Maduro could face additional charges
14:57 , Brendan RasciusPresident Trump indicated that former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who is awaiting trial in New York City, could face additional charges.
“He emptied his prison into our country and was a major purveyor of drugs coming into our country,” the president said of the deposed South American leader. “I would imagine there are other trials coming; they really sued him just on a fraction of the things he’s done…Other cases are gonna be brought.”
Trump says US is destroying Iran's military, calls their leaders 'sick, sinister people'
14:46 , Brendan RasciusTrump addressed the ongoing war in Iran, which has now dragged on for more than three weeks.
“We’re crushing their missiles and drone stock piles...we’ve wiped out their navy completely, their air force completely,” the president said.
“They are begging to make a deal, not me,” he said, describing the Iranian leaders as “sinister, sick people.”
Trump opens meeting by tearing into Democrats over DHS shutdown
14:42 , Brendan Rascius“Democrats are really punishing the American people,” Trump said while starting the Cabinet meeting. “They’re actually angry at [Chuck] Schumer, I didn’t think anyone knew his name.”
“We’re not gonna let the Democrats get away with this,” he added, referring to the DHS shutdown. “They need to end the shutdown immediately or we’ll have to take drastic measures.”
Trump's Cabinet meeting has yet to start
14:34 , Brendan RasciusPresident Trump’s Cabinet meeting was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. today. More than 30 minutes later, it has yet to start.
Poll finds Americans are strongly divided over the DHS shutdown
12:55 , Brendan RasciusA poll released over the weekend found that Americans are intensely divided over the DHS shutdown.
When asked by CBS News about Democrats’ positions on ICE and DHS funding, 36 percent of respondents said these are not worth having a partial shutdown over, while 31 percent said they are worth a shutdown.
An additional 33 percent said they weren’t sure.
Ahead of the meeting, Trump said he expects top Senate Democrat to make a deal to fund DHS
12:35 , Brendan RasciusAhead of Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, President Trump said that he expects Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to make a deal to fund DHS.
“Chuck Schumer, a desperate, crippled politician, who has lost control of the Radical Left Democrats, will make a deal now because he thinks that if he doesn’t, Republicans will TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, something which they should do whether he makes a deal or not,” the president wrote on Truth Social on Thursday morning.
Trump set to host Cabinet meeting at the White House at 10 am
12:28 , Brendan RasciusPresident Donald Trump is set to convene a Cabinet meeting this morning as the DHS shutdown continues to drag on, leading to long lines and missed flights at airports across the nation.
The meeting, which will be open to the press, is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
