Democrats and many figures on the political left reacted strongly once again to comments made by Donald Trump after he spoke to reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday about Gavin Newsom. During the exchange, Trump referenced Newsom’s previously acknowledged dyslexia and suggested that such a learning disability should disqualify someone from serving as president of the United States.
Trump stated that Newsom had admitted to having a learning disability and went on to argue that, while he supports individuals with such conditions in general, he does not believe someone with a learning disorder should hold the nation’s highest office. He added that he understood his comments might be viewed as controversial but maintained his stance, emphasizing that, in his view, a president should not have learning disabilities. Trump continued by repeating his criticism of Newsom, specifically mentioning dyslexia, and made further negative remarks about his intelligence.
In response, Newsom posted a message on Twitter, pushing back against Trump’s comments. He addressed young people with learning disabilities directly, encouraging them not to be discouraged or intimidated—even by statements coming from a former president. Newsom emphasized that dyslexia is not a weakness, but rather something that can be embraced as a strength.
At the same time, Newsom has faced criticism from both sides of the political spectrum over remarks he made during a book tour stop the previous month. Speaking to a group of Black Americans, he described his own academic struggles, saying he had a relatively low SAT score, that he had difficulty reading, and adding, “I’m just like you.” Critics from both the left and the right interpreted these comments as insensitive, arguing that they came across as racially tone-deaf, patronizing, and dismissive while appearing to generalize or talk down to the audience.
Meanwhile, Newsom’s wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, also drew public attention last month after criticizing members of the press during a conference connected to Planned Parenthood. She argued that reporters were not asking enough questions about what she described as a broader “war on women,” a remark that generated its own wave of discussion and criticism.
More recently, however, Siebel Newsom has come under additional scrutiny related to financial matters involving her nonprofit organization, The Representation Project. According to reporting from the Daily Mail, IRS filings show that she has paid both herself and her company, Girls Club LLC, a notable portion of the nonprofit’s annual revenue.
In certain years, these payments reportedly made up nearly one-third of the organization’s total income. Over the past decade, the combined total paid to Siebel Newsom and her company is said to exceed $3.7 million.
Siebel Newsom, who oversees The Representation Project, leads its mission to challenge what it describes as harmful gender norms and intersectional stereotypes in media and society. Financial disclosures indicate that the nonprofit typically receives between $1 million and $1.7 million annually through donations and grants. Of that amount, roughly $300,000 in recent years has gone toward compensation for Siebel Newsom and payments to her company.
The most recent available filings, covering up to March 2024, show that Siebel Newsom received a salary of $150,000, along with an additional $150,000 paid to Girls Club LLC. These payments to the company are categorized as fees for work such as writing, directing, and producing.
The documents further explain that Girls Club LLC holds the copyright to Siebel Newsom’s documentary, Miss Representation, and has licensed the film to the nonprofit for multiple years. This licensing arrangement includes rights related to distribution and public screenings of the film.
Some charity watchdog groups have raised concerns about the level of compensation, suggesting that it appears relatively high compared to organizations of similar size and revenue. Critics argue that such financial arrangements could attract additional scrutiny, particularly as Gavin Newsom continues to expand his national political presence.
Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust, commented that the situation could raise concerns among middle-class Americans. She suggested that the fact that a significant portion of the nonprofit’s revenue is directed toward the Newsom family could draw increased attention as the governor works to elevate his profile on the national stage.
The report also noted that among approximately 23,000 nonprofits listed in IRS databases with annual revenues between $1 million and $2 million, fewer than 5% pay their executives at levels higher than those reported by The Representation Project—especially when both Siebel Newsom’s salary and the payments to her company are taken into account.
Additionally, the filings revealed other salaries within the organization, including $150,000 for Executive Director Caroline Heldman and $131,942 for Chief Financial Officer Debra Garber. Overall, the nonprofit’s total compensation expenses for the fiscal year ending in March 2024 were just under $1 million, with approximately $153,691 allocated specifically to fundraising efforts.
