President Donald Trump’s official portrait from Wikimedia Commons.
The Ruderman Family Foundation, an international leader in disability inclusion, denounced in the strongest terms the insult tweeted by President Donald Trump at MSNBC show anchor and former U.S. Congressman Joe Scarborough, referring to him as a “psycho” before hurling additional insults, derogatory to people with disabilities, at commentating partner Mika Brzezinski, said a press release issued today by the foundation.
“About 18% of people in our country live with a mental illness,” said Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Family Foundation. “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. 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.”
According to the press release, a pair of tweets from the president read:
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“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 press release stated. 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 said.
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About the Ruderman Family Foundation
The Ruderman Family Foundation is an internationally recognized organization that advocates for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in our society. The foundation supports effective programs, innovative partnerships and a dynamic approach to philanthropy in advocating for and advancing the inclusion of people with disabilities throughout the United States and the world. The Ruderman Family Foundation believes that inclusion and understanding of all people is essential to a fair and flourishing community and imposes these values within its leadership and funding.
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