It started back in 2016 when Donald Trump made fun of a reporter from The New York Times who has cerebral palsey: That reporter, Serge Frank Kovaleski, is a South African-born American investigative reporter and won the Pulitizer Prize in 2009. In Trump’s first campaign Trump said in a November 25, 2015, speech in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, "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.'"[12] Trump flailed and jerked his arms around.[13] The incident drew widespread domestic and international criticism. This, in a way, was a shocking put-down of all people with disabilities!
Andrew Pulrang, a disability content creator, has worked in Independent Living for over 23 years at the North Country Center for Independence in Plattsburgh, New York. Pulrang, a disabled advocate. stated back in 2015:
“...we now know about another group of Americans Donald Trump is willing to insult when it suits him… disabled people. We are in good company of course, along with Hispanics, black people, Muslims, and women. And there may be more added to the list before next November. Any disabled people who still insist that disability issues have nothing to do with discrimination against other minorities should think again, because plenty of others already put us all in the same basket!”
This is nothing new for Trump. Back in May 2020 he made this statement to his nephew Fred Trump who visited the White House with several disabled advocated and doctors. Trump was scheduled to meet with several people on the subject of people with disabilities. Here’s what Fred Trump wrote in a book he’s written:
“I thought he had been touched by what the doctor and advocates in the meeting had just shared about their journey with their patients and their own family members. But I was wrong.” Fred Trump said that his uncle told him, “the shape they’re in, all the expenses, maybe those kinds of people should just die.” Fred added that he simply turned and walked away.
That’s one of many horrible situations. It was reported “In November 2025, Donald Trump used the slur "r-word" in a social media post directed at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. This incident is the most recent in a history of the former president using ableist language, which has drawn widespread condemnation from disability advocates and political figures.”
The Special Olympics has a page which states “In October 2024, he (Trump) reportedly used the same r-word slur to describe then-Vice President Kamala Harris during a dinner with donors.
In 2018, it was reported in a book by Bob Woodward that Trump described former Attorney General Jeff Sessions as "mentally r-word-ed." Trump denies this allegation.
Many disabled organizations were furious at the actions of this president! Several disabled activists went on Instagram! Grace Strobel, a model with Down Syndrome, along with and other disabled activists, stated:
“Dear President Trump, Words matter. Calling someone the R word is an insult. It hurts my feelings!”
Mary Borman a Triathlete, Public Speaker and Disability Advocate added, “The R-word isn’t just a word. It harms real people. And hearing it from leaders makes it even louder!”
Another advocate, Kayla, added “It blinds people from seeing capabilities! Here’s a question to this president: ‘Do you know all 4 presidents on Mount Rushmore have a disability?! And you say you feel your head should be added? Many will say NO WAY!!!!