He was interviewed this week by the Washington Post about his 2001 reporting. Kovaleski's story referred to FBI probes of the alleged celebrations, but quoted no witnesses and contained no specific evidence that celebrations occurred. Watch Donald Trump mock reporter's disability Trump's performance at the rally was prompted by challenges to Trump's repeated claim that he saw 'thousands' of Muslims celebrating in Jersey City, N.J., as the World Trade Center towers burned and fell during the 9/11 terror attack.īoth sides have cited a story Kovaleski had written in 2001 when he worked for the Washington Post that said authorities had detained 'a number of people' in Jersey City who had allegedly been seen celebrating the 9/11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center. 'He should stop using his disability to grandstand and get back to reporting for a newspaper that is rapidly going down the tubes,' Trump said.

'Serge Kovaleski must think a lot of himself if he thinks I remember him from decades ago - if I ever met him at all, which I doubt I did. In a subsequent statement, Trump demanded an apology from the New York Times and was critical of Kovaleski. If I did know, I would definitely not say anything about his appearance.' Kovaleski is handicapped, I would not know because I do not know what he looks like. Trump said that in his speech at the rally 'I merely mimicked what I thought would be a flustered reporter trying to get out of a statement he made long ago. Despite having one of the all-time great memories I certainly do not remember him,' the candidate added. 'Somebody at the financially failing and totally biased New York Times said that, over the years, I have met Mr. 'I have no idea who this reporter, Serge Kovalski (sic) is, what he looks like or his level of intelligence,' Trump said in a statement. Trump, however, said he did not know Kovaleski.

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