Friday, Jul 24, 2026 The claims desk. Receipts included. POWERED BY LENZ ↗
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The Claim

Donald Trump referred to Gavin Newsom as "president" during a public statement in March 2026.

Verified by Lenz ·

The Short Version

Trump did say "the president of the United States, Gavin Newscum" during a public news conference on March 16, 2026, as verified by Snopes' footage review and corroborated by TIME, ABC7, and other outlets. However, the remark occurred mid-sentence while Trump was arguing Newsom should *not* be president, making it a verbal slip or garbled phrasing rather than a deliberate designation. The claim is factually accurate but omits this important context.

Caveats

  • The remark is widely characterized as a verbal gaffe or mid-sentence slip, not a deliberate reference to Newsom as president — Trump was arguing Newsom should not be president.
  • Some lower-reliability sources (RadarOnline, Comic Sands) added sensationalized framing around 'dementia' speculation that is not supported by the verified facts.
  • The exact setting varies slightly across reports (Oval Office remarks vs. news conference), though all place the event in mid-March 2026.

The Receipts

  1. Did Trump call Gavin Newsom 'president'? We checked the footage - Snopes.com

    Snopes.com

  2. Trump Faces Backlash For Comments About Newsom's Dyslexia - TIME

    TIME

  3. Donald Trump, 79, Unleashes Bizarre Rant About ‘Learning Disabilities’

    The Daily Beast

  4. Meanness, Cruelty, and Unmanly Men - Dorf on Law

    Dorf on Law

  5. Trump questions Newsom's fitness to serve in White House over his dyslexia

    Fox News

  6. Trump repeatedly suggests Newsom can't be president because he has dyslexia

    ABC7 News

  7. Newsom Declares That 'Cannabis Is Now Legal' After Trump Mistakenly Calls Him 'President Of The United States' - Marijuana Moment

    Marijuana Moment

  8. Trump confuses Governor Gavin Newsom for president while saying presidents shouldn't have disabilities - TheGrio

    TheGrio

  9. 'It's Getting Embarrassing': Trump Roasted for Calling Gavin Newsom the 'President of the United States' in Major Blunder as 'Dementia' Speculation Mounts - RadarOnline

    RadarOnline

  10. Gavin Newsom Had An Epic Response After Trump Referred To Him As 'President Of The United States' - Comic Sands

    Comic Sands

+ 1 more sources — see the full list on Lenz

Filed Under

Donald TrumpGavin Newsom

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