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Donald Trump

Trump blasted for mocking reporter with disability

Kim Hjelmgaard
USA TODAY
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on Nov. 24 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump faced heavy criticism this week for his comments and apparent mocking of a reporter for the New York Times who is disabled.

Referring to Serge Kovaleski while on the campaign trail in South Carolina, Trump told a rally: "You've got to see this guy." He then ridiculed Kovaleski's appearance by bending his wrists and jerking his arms around.

Kovaleski has a chronic condition that affects his joints called arthrogryposis.

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In a statement provided to Politico, the Times called Trump's behavior "outrageous."

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The source of the dispute is an article Kovaleski wrote while working for the Washington Post at the time of the 9/11 attacks.

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The journalist reported that New Jersey "law enforcement authorities 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."

Trump claims that the story is proof of his now debunked allegation that he witnessed "thousands" of Arabs celebrating in the wake of the attacks.

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In South Carolina, Trump took issue with subsequent comments made by Kovaleski on CNN that he couldn't remember all of the details of his reporting from that time but that he didn't remember large numbers of people celebrating.

Trump pushed back against the criticism on Twitter, saying that the newspaper should focus "on good reporting and the paper's financial survival and not with constant hits on Donald Trump."

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