Trump Faces Backlash for Saying Paralympics Are 'Tough to Watch'

Adam Rippon, Cher, and more criticized the president for his ableist comments.

Trump Paralympics
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Image via Getty/Alex Wong

Trump Paralympics

Donald Trump is facing backlash for some ableist comments he made about the 2018 Paralympic Games. "What happened with the Paralympics was so incredible and so inspiring to me,” he said outside 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

What is so tough to watch about people competing in sporting events, Donald? The comments imply that there is something about athletes with disabilities that makes Trump uncomfortable. This year is the 12th rendition of the games, since they were started back in 1988, and they’re currently taking place right now in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Shortly after his comments hit the internet, the organization that runs  Paralympic Games fired back at Trump, remarking that a “record numbers of people around the world are not finding @Paralympics tough to watch.”

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

Olympic athlete Adam Rippon, Cher, and a chorus of others also attacked Trump for the comments, some harkening back to Trump’s mocking of a reporter with a physical disability in 2016.

Current mood: Having no regrets about missing this trip. https://t.co/xxcKxKz6NL

— Adam Rippon (@AdamRippon) 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

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