Donald Trump ‘mocks’ disabled New York Times journalist
The New York Times said it was “outrageous that he would ridicule the appearance of one of our reporters”.
The Republican presidential front-runner aimed his fire at reporter Serge Kovaleski, who has hit back at Trump’s recent claims that thousands of Muslims could be seen celebrating in New Jersey on the day of the September 11 attacks on the US.
Speaking while flailing and twisting his arms, he ridiculed Kovaleski, who suffers arthrogryposis, a congenital condition that affects joint movement, over the reporter’s recollection of an article he wrote days after the attacks.
Jerking his arms in front of his body, Trump said: “Now the poor guy, you’ve got to see this guy. ‘Ah, I don’t know what I said! I don’t remember.
“He’s going like: ‘I don’t remember, maybe that’s what I said.’ This was 14 years ago, they didn’t do a retraction!”
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
In 2001, Kovaleski was the author of a report cited by Trump in defence of his 9/11 claim.
The report said that “law enforcement authorities [in Jersey City] detained and questioned a number of people who were allegedly seen celebrating the attacks and holding tailgate-style parties on rooftops”.
However, Kovaleski this week said he did not recall “anyone saying there were thousands, or even hundreds, of people celebrating”.
“We did a lot of shoe leather reporting in and around Jersey City and talked to a lot of residents and officials for the broader story,” he told CNN.
“Much of that has, indeed, faded from memory.
“I do not recall anyone saying there were thousands, or even hundreds, of people celebrating. That was not the case, as best as I can remember.”
The mayor of Jersey City has said Trump’s claims are “plain wrong”.
Responding to Trump’s behaviour and body movement, Kovaleski told The Washington Post: “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.”
A spokesperson for The New York Times told Politico: “We think it’s outrageous that he would ridicule the appearance of one of our reporters.”
Trump replied on his Twitter page, writing: “The failing @nytimes should be focused on good reporting and the papers financial survival and not with constant hits on Donald Trump!”
They came to a Donald Trump rally to get extra credit for a class. They were about to become part of the lesson. https://t.co/XqYNlMuAe4
— The New York Times (@nytimes) November 27, 2015
A spokesman for Trump’s campaign said he was “not aware of any condition and was not mocking his physical appearance in any way”.
The 69-year-old tycoon has made a number of controversial remarks after launching his campaign to secure the Republican nomination.
In August, he refused to apologise after implying that Fox News journalist Megyn Kelly was tough on him during one of the Republican debates because she was menstruating.
In July, he criticised former Republican presidential contender John McCain’s war record, and in June he referred to Mexicans as rapists in a speech to announce his candidacy.
