Some media outlets have accused GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump of mocking spastic mannerisms of disabled New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski in a speech Trump made at a campaign rally in South Carolina on November 24 of last year.
But Kovaleski, who has a congenital joint condition, exhibits none of the wild gesticulations and speech artifacts of Trump’s characterization — in previous interviews he’s given in the media, the reporter appears to be quite mild-mannered and calm in his behavior.
Replays of the video in question clearly show that Trump’s acting was not intended to be an imitation of Kovaleski (who Trump has never met nor seen video of) but instead is supposed to convey the impression of a flustered, stammering person attempting to deny the accuracy of a story they wrote more than 10 years ago (which is what Kovaleski actually did).
This is a clear attempt at a political smear by forces aligned with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton — a weak attempt to assassinate Trump’s character that falls apart upon closer examination.
