California Gov. Gavin Newsom is responding to the massive criticism he’s enduring for telling a mostly black audience on Sunday that he’s just like them because of his low SAT score and difficulty reading.

Newsom called the criticism baseless right-wing outrage.

“You didn’t give a shit about the President of the United States of America posting an ape video of President Obama or calling African nations shitholes — but you’re going to call me racist for talking about my lifelong struggle with dyslexia?” Newsom posted on X, responding to a comment from Fox News host Sean Hannity.

Hannity had stated Newsom thinks “a 960 SAT Makes Him ‘Like’ Black Americans. Let That Sink In.”

Newsom’s office also told the Washington Examiner the uproar is just “MAGA-manufactured outrage.”

The controversy stems from comments Newsom made during a discussion with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.

“I’m not trying to impress you. … I’m like you. I am no better than you. I’m a 960 SAT guy,” Newsom said.

The comment prompted laughter from the audience, and Newsom, who is doing a book tour ahead of his presumptive presidential campaign, continued.

“I’m not trying to offend anyone,” Newsom said, adding that he cannot read a speech, which likely referred to his battle with dyslexia.

The comments drew backlash from some observers who said his comments were demeaning as he’s implying his audience of mostly black Americans are dumb.

“The first question that came to mind is ‘Why does Gov. Newsom think the best way to relate to a black audience is by telling them he is essentially stupid and can’t read, and didn’t score well on the high school Scholastic Aptitude Test? Isn’t that patently racist?” wrote Katy Grimes, editor of the California Globe.

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott also denounced the comments, posting on X: “Black Americans aren’t your low bar. We’ve built empires, created movements, outworked, outhustled and outsmarted people like you. Stop using your mediocre academics as a way to patronize communities. Its ridiculous!”

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