Trump Calls Gavin Newsom 'President of the United States': Dementia Slip or Bizzare Rant?

A remark by Donald Trump during an Oval Office exchange has quickly taken over the political conversation, after he referred to California Governor Gavin Newsom as 'the president of the United States' while criticising him.

The moment, delivered as part of a broader attack on Newsom's fitness for office, spread rapidly online within hours, drawing scrutiny not just for the comment itself but for what it might suggest.

With no clarification from the White House, the off-script line has since fuelled both political backlash and fresh questions about Trump's cognitive health.

What Trump Said And How the Moment Unfolded

The exchange took place on Monday, as Trump spoke to reporters in the Oval Office. His comments were aimed squarely at Newsom, a prominent Democrat often floated as a potential 2028 contender.

During the remarks, Trump criticised Newsom's past acknowledgement of dyslexia, calling him 'low-IQ' and questioning whether someone with a learning disability should hold the presidency. In the middle of that argument, he made the now-viral slip, saying, 'The president of the United States, Gavin Newscum...' before continuing without correcting himself.

Video clips show Trump moving past the line as if nothing unusual had been said, which only added to the reaction once the footage began circulating.

Newsom Leans Into the Moment

Newsom responded within hours, shifting the tone from criticism to satire. In a post addressing young people with learning disabilities, he pushed back against Trump's remarks while offering a broader message of support.

'To every kid with a learning disability: don't let anyone — not even the President of the United States — bully you. Dyslexia isn't a weakness. It's your strength.' He then took it a step further, jokingly embracing the title Trump had used. In a follow-up message, Newsom mockingly declared himself 'officially president.'

'NOW THAT I, GAVIN C. NEWSOM, AM OFFICIALLY PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (THANK YOU DONALD!), I HAVE MANY BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS TO MAKE!' he said in a post on X.

The Dementia Narrative Gains Conversation

The reaction online didn't stay focused on the feud for long. It shifted to Trump himself.

Clips of the remark were widely shared alongside claims that it pointed to cognitive decline, with critics linking it to his age — he turns 80 later this year — and a growing list of past verbal missteps.

This isn't happening in isolation. Trump has faced similar scrutiny before, including a 2024 rally where he appeared to confuse Nikki Haley with Nancy Pelosi. At the time, his team dismissed it, but the clip circulated widely and fed into the same line of criticism.

There's no confirmed medical diagnosis of dementia, and Trump has previously said he performed well on a cognitive test. No updated medical records have been released during his current term.

Meanwhile, Trump's health in general has been in the headlines for an extended period. The appearance of red patches and marks on his hands and neck continue to draw media attention, alongside repeated accusations that his administration is hiding the president's potentially deteriorating health condition.

Trump's reference to Gavin Newsom as 'the president of the United States' during his remarks remains open to interpretation, whether it was a slip, sarcasm, or something else.