California’s Democratic government, Gavin Newsom, claimed that his office had never used the term “Latinx” in a recent interview, but in a Fox News digital review he found the claim to be false.
“By the way, no one person in my office used the term Latinku,” Newsom said in a viral podcast episode with Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
“I didn’t even know where it came from. What are people talking about?” he added.
However, a post from the governor and an official document from his office pours cold water into this claim.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom went viral over comments made in a conversation with conservative activist Charlie Kirk. (Screenshot/This is Gavin Newsom | Getty Images)
In a 2019 X post, Newsom tweeted the terminology of his official government account on childhood poverty research.
In his personal account, California Democrats used the term when discussing the Covid-19 pandemic.
“#covid19 will disproportionately affect the Latinx community,” he tweeted. “There is concern about rising interest rates in Central Valley. CAs are increasing tests, increasing tracing and quarantine efforts, making $52 million available to send strike teams to four counties with lawsuits and hospitalizations.”
In 2023, he said there are “politicians who ban the term Latinku and not assault rifles.”
Brooks Allen, the governor’s education policy advisor, used “Latinx” in a 2023 letter on the state’s ethnic research model.
“This model is based on the fundamental curriculum areas of the ethnic studies tradition: African American studies, Native American studies, Asian/Pacific Islands American studies, and Latinos studies,” he wrote at the time.
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The term also appeared in official press releases and documents from Newsom’s Office. In October 2020, it was used by the governor to promote a conversation with singer Becky G about a “youth vote” posted on the official governor’s office website.
A month ago, it was used in a news release on bills related to small businesses during the pandemic.
“Mineral-owned businesses are disproportionately affected. The number of active businesses owned by African-Americans has dropped by 41%, Latinx has dropped by 32%, Asians have dropped by 25%, and immigration has dropped by 36%.”
The term was used again in 2021 when it came to addressing the learning gaps associated with the closure of pandemic schools.
“This campaign will reach out to parents in the community that have been hit hardest by helping parents open schools for the next fiscal year, particularly Latino, African American, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders parents to support AB 86-$25 million,” he said.
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Newsom’s upcoming podcast is the second podcast he is involved in. (Getty Images)
The governor’s webpage is also used for the “Farm to School” effort by first partner Jennifer Seibel Newsom.
“Today, more than 2 million children in California have no access to healthy whole foods. Black and Latino children report twice as much food insecurity as children from white families,” the website says.
The Governor’s Career Education Council website uses the term on its Research Results Summary page. Newsom’s former education policy associate, who now serves as his deputy minister, said in the 2021 X-Post “Latinx.”
“A more equitable, resilient and coordinated economic recovery with higher education will be disproportionately denied access and affected by the pandemic to improve outcomes for students of black, Latino, API, Indigenous and adult learners,” Michael Wiaf said.
A Newsom’s Office spokesman told Fox News Digital that “Latinx” was “not a widely used term in his administration.” Some staff use it from time to time.”
Turning Point USA leader Charlie Kirk (right) is a guest of California Governor Gavin Newsom (left)’s first edition of his “This Is Gavin Newsom” podcast. (Gavin Newsom/x)
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According to NBC News, the term is widely unpopular among Latinos and Hispanics, and is thought to be even attacked in some cases.
A 2024 Pew Research Center study found that 51% of Hispanic American adults are unfamiliar with the term “Latinx,” and in fact only 4% say the term, which is intended to be a Latinx gender-neutral alternative.
Cameron Arcand is a political writer for Fox News Digital at Washington DC.
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