Sen. Ted Cruz and Gov. Gavin Newsom exchanged tweets after Newsom said Cruz had called him "illiterate." Cruz said he had called Newsom "historically illiterate" and posted a clown emoji, while Newsom—who is dyslexic—called the remark a "new low." Cruz cited Eisenhower's Sept. 23, 1957 Executive Order 10730, which federalized the Arkansas National Guard and sent federal troops to enforce desegregation in Little Rock. Commentators including Clay Travis also weighed in on the dispute.
Cruz Calls Newsom 'Historically Illiterate,' Posts Clown Emoji After Governor's Response
California Gov. Gavin Newsom looks on during a bill signing event related to redrawing the state’s congressional maps on August 21, 2025, in Sacramento, California.(Getty Images)
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and California Gov. Gavin Newsom traded barbs on social media after Newsom accused Cruz of calling him "illiterate." Cruz pushed back, saying he had labeled the governor "historically illiterate," then replied to Newsom with a clown emoji.
Newsom, who has spoken publicly about being dyslexic, criticized Cruz's wording in a tweet: "Ted Cruz calling a dyslexic person illiterate is a new low, even for him." Cruz responded that he had not questioned Newsom's ability to read, writing: "I didn’t say you couldn’t read, you [clown emoji]. I said you were 'historically illiterate.'"
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, arrives to a hearing in the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 17, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
Cruz: "I said you were 'historically illiterate,' because you apparently have no idea that Eisenhower federalized the National Guard to stop Dem governors from defying federal law."
To illustrate his point, Cruz cited President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Sept. 23, 1957, Executive Order 10730, which federalized the Arkansas National Guard and authorized U.S. Army troops, including elements of the 101st Airborne Division, to enforce school desegregation in Little Rock. Cruz said that action overrode Gov. Orval Faubus's blockade and allowed the Little Rock Nine to attend Central High School.
14 February 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Gavin Newsom, Governor of the US state of California, takes part in the 62nd Munich Security Conference.
Conservative commentators weighed in as well. Clay Travis, founder of OutKick and a talk-radio host, wrote that the phrase "historically illiterate" implies a lack of basic historical knowledge and criticized Newsom's response as evidence of that deficit.
This exchange highlights how historical events and personal disclosures—such as Newsom's dyslexia—can become focal points in modern political disputes, prompting debate over tone, intent and the substance of public criticism.
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