“Trump has since taken to Twitter to say: “‘The failing @nytimes should be focused on good reporting and the papers financial survival and not with constant hits on Donald Trump!”.
Advertisement
Donald Trump responded to critics who accused him of imitating the mannerisms of New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski in a lengthy statement he tweeted on Thanksgiving day.
Trump was addressing a rally in SC 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 told MSNBC on Monday that he did “not recall anyone saying there were thousands, or even hundreds, of people celebrating”.
New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski (left) in 2010.
In his Thursday statement, Trump said he had not been aware of the journalist’s disability and “merely mimicked what I thought would be a flustered reporter trying to get out of a statement he made long ago”.
So on Thanksgiving Day, Trump issued a statement claiming he was misunderstood.
It was not Trump’s words, but his moving his arms and hands that drew criticism in reports by Politico, CNN and The Washington Post, Kovaleski’s former employer.
“@sergenyt is one of the best reporters – and best people – I know”.
The billionaire businessman who owns the Trump Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire and the Trump International Links course in Aberdeenshire’s alleged behaviour was branded “outrageous” by Serge Kovaleski’s employer The New York Times.
Numerous public officials – including then-New Jersey Attorney General John Farmer Jr. – and news reports have also debunked Trump’s claims. “I think if it had happened, I would remember it. But, you know, there could be things I forget too”. “Despite having one of the all-time great memories I certainly do not remember him”.
Trump challenged recollections by Mr Kovaleski and others about the 9/11 aftermath during a speech at a rally in SC. In July, Trump said, “I get called by a guy that can’t buy a pair of trousers, I get called names?” referring to the columnist Charles Krauthammer who is paralyzed from the waist down.
The Club’s battle with Mr. Trump is shaping up as an early test of his campaign with little more than two months to go before Iowa holds its first-in-the-nation caucuses.
Advertisement
Kovaleski hit back at Trump, too.
