Disability

appalachiablue

(44,223 posts) Sat Apr 18, 2026, 11:08 PM Apr 18

Trump's Dyslexia Barbs Stir Anguish & Anger, Perpetuating A Myth About The Learning Disability, CA Gov. Newsom

AP News, April, 2026.WASHINGTON (AP) —

Lauryn Muller was scrolling on social media when she saw a clip of President Donald Trump belittling California Gov. Gavin Newsom for having dyslexia. It stirred a well of emotion for the 18-year-old Muller, bringing back memories of her own struggles learning to read and the times she felt something was wrong with her.

Trump called Newsom “stupid,” “low IQ,” “mentally disabled” and unfit to become president. Muller knew it was part of a political feud — Trump is a Republican and Newsom is a Democrat who is expected to run for the White House in 2028 — but Trump’s words felt personal.

“We’ve had to overcome so many deficits, and for someone to, on a national stage, say, yeah, they will never be like us — that definitely came as an emotional sting to me,” said Muller, an incoming student at Auburn University whose dyslexia was identified as a child.

It was one more entry in Trump’s history of denigrating the intelligence of his foes and mocking those with disabilities. Yet this time he was maligning tens of millions of people, calling their abilities into question and undermining years of progress fighting stigma around dyslexia...

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https://apnews.com/article/dyslexia-trump-newsom-insults-learning-disability-53e47ca7c7d4d0d16eb42a9a012a85e0

6 replies

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Trump's Dyslexia Barbs Stir Anguish & Anger, Perpetuating A Myth About The Learning Disability, CA Gov. Newsom (Original Post) appalachiablue Apr 18 OP

Marilyn's the one with a problem. WTF! mobeau69 Apr 18 #1

I get it, some contradiction.Thanks for the post. appalachiablue Apr 18 #3

As a Certified College Health Nurse... oldsoldierfadingfast Apr 18 #2

I believe it, thanks for posting. appalachiablue Apr 18 #4

My youngest son is dyslexic with letters Sweet Rosie Red 17 hrs ago #5

I can believe your son is so talented, and doing very well, good for him. I know how so many think appalachiablue 6 hrs ago #6

mobeau69

(12,470 posts)

1. Marilyn's the one with a problem. WTF!

Reply to appalachiablue (Original post)

Sat Apr 18, 2026, 11:24 PM

Apr 18

Muller’s mother, Marilyn, voted for Trump three times and says she still supports his politics. But she was hurt when Trump linked dyslexia with low intelligence — a dated myth that she has spent years trying to dispel.

appalachiablue

(44,223 posts)

3. I get it, some contradiction.Thanks for the post.

Reply to mobeau69 (Reply #1)

Sat Apr 18, 2026, 11:50 PM

Apr 18

oldsoldierfadingfast

(418 posts)

2. As a Certified College Health Nurse...

Reply to appalachiablue (Original post)

Sat Apr 18, 2026, 11:37 PM

Apr 18

who worked a 12 hr. night shift; I can't tell you how many students we had that had dyslexia - or how many I read to when I was not busy with other students.
Since they were studying things outside the heath profession, I learned quite a bit about other fields. I still am in touch with one of them from the 1980s. He now has a PHD and is tenured at a prominent university.

appalachiablue

(44,223 posts)

4. I believe it, thanks for posting.

Reply to oldsoldierfadingfast (Reply #2)

Sat Apr 18, 2026, 11:51 PM

Apr 18

Sweet Rosie Red

(156 posts)

5. My youngest son is dyslexic with letters

Reply to appalachiablue (Original post)

Sat May 30, 2026, 11:57 PM

17 hrs ago

and has struggled to write all his life, but can read a blueprint and do math in his head faster than most engineers he has worked with. High school IQ 142. Self supporting, never been in trouble of any kind, mechanical genius, accomplished motor head. I’m very proud of him! Most of the right wing considers “learning disabled” to be a euphemism for “intellectually slow” but that is just a result of their own chosen ignorance. I feel for the children they drag up without proper educational and emotional support.

appalachiablue

(44,223 posts)

6. I can believe your son is so talented, and doing very well, good for him. I know how so many think

Reply to Sweet Rosie Red (Reply #5)

Sun May 31, 2026, 10:37 AM

6 hrs ago

learning disabled is intellectually slow. It's disappointing and tiring to have to explain it over and over. Thanks for the post.

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