Gov. Gavin Newsom‘s (D-CA) press office pushed back on online criticism over comments he made Sunday night during his book tour.

Newsom is promoting his new book, Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery, and sat for a one-on-one discussion with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens in Georgia. Newsom said his book is “a very human story,” and he’s not “trying to be someone I’m not” while speaking to Dickens and the audience.