The incident was the culmination of an argument between Trump and Serge Kovaleski over the claim that thousands were seen celebrating in New Jersey during 9/11.

Trump took aim at the disabled Kovaleski, a Pulitzer-prize winning reporter employed by The New York Times at the time.

Now, the poor guy, you’ve got to see this guy: “Uhh, I don’t know what I said. Uhh, I don’t remember,” he’s going like “I don’t remember. Maybe that’s what I said.”

Despite their having met in the past, and Kovaleski having reported on and interviewed Trump multiple times, Trump defended himself by saying he didn’t know of him or his disability.

Very simple. I said this, and all of a sudden, because I said it very very expressively – and again, I’m trying to show someone groveling to take back the statement he made, because he wanted to take it back because it wasn’t good for the people that he knows and likes at the New York Times and Washington Post…

 

I would never mock a person that has difficulty. I would never do that. I’m telling you, I would never do it. I would never do it. I would never do it. I don’t care if I liked the person or didn’t – and I don’t know this person.

Defenders also noted that when Trump adopts a mocking imitation of someone, they tend to be a similar impression, and so asserted that Trump was not singling out Kovaleski’s disability.

Politifact – Says Hillary Clinton is “wrong” to say he mocked a disabled reporter.
Snopes – Donald Trump Criticized for Mocking Disabled Reporter
The Washington Post – Donald Trump’s revisionist history of mocking a disabled reporter
BBC News – Donald Trump under fire for mocking disabled reporter