Serge Kovaleski, ‘New York Times’ Reporter With Arthrogryposis: ‘Donald And I Were On A First-Name Basis For Years’
Serge Kovaleski, the New York Times reporter who stated that he could not remember “anyone saying there were thousands, or even hundreds, of people celebrating,” in an interview with MSNBC, in response to Donald Trump’s claim that “thousands” of Muslims in New Jersey celebrated as the Twin Towers burned in New York on September 11, 2001, has stated that he has personally met Donald Trump about a dozen times and was on a “first-name basis” with him.
MSNBC was interviewing Kovaleski because he had authored a 2001 piece with the Washington Post to investigate if there was any basis in fact for Donald Trump’s assertions about the sympathies of New Jersey Muslims, as reported by the Inquisitr.
“Now, the poor guy — you ought to see the guy: ‘Uh, I don’t know what I said. I don’t remember.'”
After many media outlets, including Kovaleski’s employer, the New York Times, rushed to his defense and simultaneously condemned Trump’s actions, Trump was quoted with regard to Serge Kovaleski.
“I have no idea who this reporter, Serge Kovalski [sic], is, what he looks like or his level of intelligence. Despite having one of the all-time great memories, I certainly do not remember him… Mr. Kovaleski is handicapped, I would not know because I do not know what he looks like. If I did know, I would definitely not say anything about his appearance.”
Herein I Dispute Trump's claims.
Donald Trump Says His Mocking of New York Times Reporter Was Misread https://t.co/HJsU43Z8CK— Serge Kovaleski (@sergenyt) November 27, 2015
Serge Kovaleski has flatly denied Donald Trump’s assertion that he doesn’t know who he is.
“Donald and I were on a first-name basis for years,” Kovaleski was quoted. “I’ve interviewed him in his office.”
In total, Kovaleski estimated that he personally dealt with Donald Trump “around a dozen” times when he worked as a writer with the New York Daily News.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” Kovaleski stated to the New York Times.
Serge F. Kovaleski’s profile with the New York Times lists 364 articles. He has written for the New York Daily News, the Washington Post, the Miami News, and Money Magazine. He is also a Pulitzer Prize winner.
Trump was also quoted that he felt Kovaleski should stop “using his disability” to “grandstand,” as reported by CNN. Since Trump has been criticized for his seeming mimicking of Kovaleski, he has unleashed a stream of anti-New York Times tweets.
I do not know the reporter for the @nytimes, or what he looks like. I was showing a person groveling to take back a statement made long ago!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2015
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2015
The failing @nytimes should focus on fair and balanced reporting rather than constant hit jobs on me. Yesterday 3 boring articles, today2!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2015
Donald Trump’s comments with regard to a Black Lives Matter protester, Mercutio Southall, who he supposed might have deserved to have been “roughed up” at a rally in Birmingham, Alabama have also been attracting attention. Reportedly, a woman who was with the protester, who were both wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts, had a camera intentionally knocked out of her hand. In reaction, the man and woman reportedly began shouting “Black Lives Matter.”
Several rally participants were reported to have kicked, punched, and stepped on Southall. He was eventually pulled away and presumably ejected from the event. Cenk Uygur with the Young Turks discusses that while Southall might have been deserving of being civilly escorted from the building, he most certainly did not deserve to be the subject of a violent assault.
Uygur also points out that the Birmingham police referred to Southall as an “agitator” instead of investigating the incident and filing charges against the people who appear to assault him in the available video. Further, Uygur suggests that Donald Trump has fascist leanings and that this is “how fascism begins.”
What has been perceived as confounding is that the more Donald Trump continues with his antics, the more he rises in polls. He currently leads Ben Carson with 27.5 percent of Republican voter support, according to Real Clear Politics. Most recent polls only include data included before November 19, before his Serge Kovaleski and Birmingham rally statements; many have called for Trump’s numbers to crash with each mounting gaffe. Yet his support appears to remain solid.
[Feature Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images]
