US Republican presidential contender Donald Trump has denied the allegations of mocking a disabled New York Times reporter during a campaign earlier this week, after it raged controversy all over the media. The Republican frontrunner has even demanded an apology from the newspaper for levelling accusations against him.

“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 issued by his campaign on Thursday afternoon. “Despite having one of the all-time great memories, I certainly do not remember him. I don’t know if he is [Houston Texans defensive end] JJ Watt or Muhammad Ali in his prime – or somebody of less athletic ability.”

Kovaleski said in an email interview with the Daily News on Thursday that he met Trump repeatedly while he was still working for the Daily News and was covering Trump’s business career in the late 1980s.

Trump had allegedly derided Kovaleski while addressing a campaign earlier this week. The journalist suffers from arthrogryposis, a condition that hampers the movement of the joint. Trump was seen pulling an expression on his face and contorting his right hand in a wrong angle, which appeared to viewers as his way of imitating and mocking Kovaleski.. He referred to a report by Kovaleski in 2001 to bolster his own widely disputed claim that “thousands” of Muslims were apparently seen celebrating the 9/11 attacks in the US.

In 2001, Kovaleski worked for the Washington Post and authored a report that claimed, “law enforcement authorities [in Jersey City] detained and questioned a number of people who were allegedly seen celebrating the attacks and holding tailgate-style parties on rooftops.”

However, in a recent interview the reporter said that he cannot remember anyone saying there were thousands or even hundreds of people celebrating. Trump accused the reporter for not backing his own claims at his rally.

"Now the poor guy, you gotta see this guy," the politician said in the apparent imitation. "Uhh I don't know what I said. Uhh I don't remember. He's going like, 'I don't remember. Maybe that's what I said.”

The mockery has been termed “outrageous” by the New York Times.

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.

Source:YouTube.com/Richard Rabat

RELATED STORIES