Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) blasted President Trump on Sunday, for saying that the Paralympics were “tough to watch.”
The president made the comments on Friday, during a White House event where he honored Team USA Olympians and Paralympians at the White House.
Trump said, “What happened with the Paralympics was so incredible and so inspiring to me,” he said at the White House on Friday. “And I watched—it’s a little tough to watch too much, but I watched as much as I could.”
WATCH: During an event with Team USA Olympians and Paralympians at the White House, President Trump said, "What happened with the Paralympics was so incredible and so inspiring to me. And I watched — it's a little tough to watch too much, but I watched as much as I could." pic.twitter.com/geYUUu9vmg
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) April 27, 2018
Duckworth fired back at President Trump for saying he had a tough time watching the games.
“It’s not ‘tough to watch’ incredible @Paralympics athletes compete and showcase their talents, it’s inspiring. These brave athletes overcome a lot to get to the finish line,” Duckworth tweeted.
It's not "tough to watch" incredible @Paralympics athletes compete and showcase their talents, it's inspiring. These brave athletes overcome a lot to get to the finish line RT: https://t.co/ffHHYQjpmR
— Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) April 29, 2018
Duckworth is a military veteran who lost both legs in Iraq in 2004, after her helicopter was shot down.
The senator from Illinois wasn’t alone in interpreting Trump’s comments as a slight at the Paralympics. The Paralympics pushed back on the president via their Twitter account:
Record numbers around the world are not finding @Paralympics tough to watch. Billions of viewers now take in the Paralympics in hundreds of countries around the world. We hope the US President continues to watch and be inspired by the Paralympics. https://t.co/3jhr5Fd8tT
— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) April 28, 2018
A slew of other athletes and celebs also joined in the criticism of Trump, including Cher and gay activist skater Adam Rippon:
Current mood: Having no regrets about missing this trip. https://t.co/xxcKxKz6NL
— Adam Rippon (@Adaripp) April 28, 2018
Resolve, mettle, courage, resiliency – dignity, equality – it's not just easy to watch, its inspiring.
What's hard to watch are this President's comments, his Administration.
There are better angels among us. They're competing in the Paralympics not plundering the White House. https://t.co/w4naomlsDT
— David Jolly (@DavidJollyFL) April 27, 2018
Trump, who openly mocked a disabled reporter during his campaign, said today he finds the Paralympics “tough to watch.” Has there ever been a President who so openly disdained disabled people? https://t.co/YykfShQ4KW pic.twitter.com/0jVbmpbmEQ
— Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) April 27, 2018
This is your president,He can’t help being hurtful….He said he got melania a lovely card ,
Because he doesn’t have time to go shopping…..With all he’s put her through….Maybe he could have missed a round of golf.
With Paralympics he was cruel but didn’t seem to know it pic.twitter.com/nb7t7pGAgZ— Cher (@cher) April 28, 2018
However, it seems completely contradictory that Trump would sing the praises of the Paralympic athletes, lauding how “incredible” and “inspiring” they were. While at the same time saying the games weren’t a compelling watch.
A contradiction that even outspoken critics such as MSNBC’s Chris Hayes picked up on:
So I've listened to this way more than I should've, and I *think* I've come to conclude he means it's tough to watch too much because he's so busy being president. https://t.co/ZtYl2aJSP9
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) April 28, 2018
Follow Dylan Gwinn on Twitter @themightygwinn
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