Donald Trump slammed for mocking reporter with disability
Donald Trump has come under fire for mocking a reporter with a disability during a South Carolina rally with critics saying his actions are ‘outrageous.’
The video shows the US presidential hopeful impersonating New York Times reporter, Serge Kovaleski, who has a chronic condition called arthrogryposis which affects the movement of his arms.
"Now, the poor guy — you've got to see this guy," Trump said, while waving his arms at an odd angle.'
"Ah, I don't know what I said! I don't remember!'" Trump was quoted as saying by The Washington Post.
Trump was addressing a rally in South Carolina on 24 November, where he was backing his claim that "thousands" of Muslims were rejoicing after the 9/11 terror attacks apparently citing an article by the reporter.
Kovaleski's report, however, said that authorities in Jersey City had "detained and questioned a number of people who were allegedly seen celebrating the attacks and holding tailgate-style parties on rooftops while they watched the devastation on the other side of the river".
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The article was published in The Washington Post a few days after the terror attacks took place in 2011.
Kovaleski told CNN that he does "not recall anyone saying there were thousands, or even hundreds, of people celebrating".
He also said he was sure that Trump, who he had covered between 1987 and 1993 when he was reporting for New York Daily News, remembered his condition.
"The sad part about it is, it didn't in the slightest bit jar or surprise me that Donald Trump would do something this low-rent, given his track record," Kovaleski said.
Trump's campaign spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, would not comment on the record about the incident, a campaign official told the paper that Trump was "not aware of any condition and was not mocking his physical appearance in any way."
The failing @nytimes should be focused on good reporting and the papers financial survival and not with constant hits on Donald Trump!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2015
The numbers at the @nytimes are so dismal, especially advertising revenue, that big help will be needed fast. A once great institution-SAD!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2015
"We think it's outrageous that he would ridicule the appearance of one of our reporters," New York Times spokeswoman told Politico, a news site.
An advocacy group is now offering Trump sensitivity training after the incident.
Jay Ruderman of the Ruderman Family Foundation in Boston said he should apologise to Serge Kovaleski of The New York Times and the public.
"It is unacceptable for a child to mock another child's disability on the playground, never mind a presidential candidate mocking someone's disability as part of a national political discourse," he said.
