News Americas, Boston, MA, Fri. June 30, 2017: The Ruderman Family Foundation, an international leader in disability inclusion, denounces in the strongest terms the insult tweeted by President Trump at MSNBC show anchor and former US Congressman Joe Scarborough, referring to him as a ‘psycho’ before hurling additional insults, derogatory to people with disabilities, at commentating partner Mika Brzezinski.
“About 18% of people in our county live with a mental illness. It is disheartened and unacceptable to see the leader of the free world so brazenly attack someone by using a derogatory term for a person with this disability, and perpetuating the stigma and discrimination this population faces on a daily basis,” said Jay Ruderman, President of the Ruderman Family Foundation. “Inclusion is what makes our communities and our country great, and we call on the President of the United States to be a role model for inclusion of all its citizens.”
A pair of tweets from the President read: “I heard poorly rated @Morning_Joe speaks badly of me (don’t watch anymore). Then how come low I.Q. Crazy Mika, along with Psycho Joe, came to Mar-a-Lago 3 nights in a row around New Year’s Eve, and insisted on joining me. She was bleeding badly from a face-lift. I said no!”
This is not the first time, President Trump has been called out for insensitivity to people with disabilities, mocking New York Times reporter, Serge Kovaleski during the Presidential Campaign back in November of 2015. The then-presidential candidate was seen imitating Kovaleski’s disability, who has arthrogryposis, a congenital condition that affects joint movement, during a campaign rally in South Carolina.
“As a community, we have been fighting towards a more inclusive society and it once again signals how far we still must come, when an individual with such authority can be so misguided and naïve in his actions,” Ruderman added.
