Donald Trump: I mimicked a 'flustered reporter,' I wasn't mocking the disabled

Donald Trump has denied mocking a disabled journalist during a campaign speech, claiming he was simply misunderstood after flailing his arms and distorting his speech in an imitation of the reporter.

The under-fire Republican presidential front-runner sparked an uproar by impersonating New York Times journalist Serge Kovaleski during the rally in South Carolina this week.

The billionaire reality TV star was defending his earlier unsubstantiated claims that thousands of Muslims were seen in New Jersey cheering the collapse of the Twin Towers in 2011.

During the speech, he singled out Times investigative reporter Serge Kovaleski for a story he wrote a few days after the attacks while he was then a Washington Post correspondent.

That article reported authorities had detained “a number of people who were allegedly seen celebrating the attacks and holding tailgate-style parties on rooftops while they watched the devastation on the other side of the river.” Those accounts have never been authenticated.

Mr Kovaleski himself said in a recent CNN interview that he did “not recall anyone saying there were thousands, or even hundreds of people celebrating. That was not the case, as best I can remember.”

While not referring to Kovaleski by name in his speech, Trump accused the reporter of backing down from his own story.

“Now, the poor guy - you’ve got to see this guy. ‘Ah, I don’t know what I said. I don’t remember,’” Trump said at the microphone, jerking his arms in front of his body and slurring his words in a crude impression of the reporter.

Mr Kovaleski suffers from a congenital condition called arthrogryposis, which limits mobility and muscle development in the joints.

The New York Times issued a statement yesterday rebuking Trump, saying, “We think it’s outrageous that he would ridicule the appearance of one of our reporters.”

Trump fired back on social media late last night, denying he had made fun of Mr Kovaleski’s disability and claiming he would even recognise him.