Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski defended himself Wednesday against those excoriating him for apparently mocking the pain of a Down syndrome child who had been separated from her family.
What happened?
Lewandowski was debating senior Democratic National Committee adviser Zac Petkanas on Fox News Tuesday when the latter related the story of a 10-year-old girl with Down syndrome who had been separated from her parents.
Lewandowski interrupted Petkanas and mocked, “womp womp!”
Many took this as a mockery of the story of the 10-year-old and castigated the Trump ally for what appeared to be an insensitive response.
What is Lewandowski saying?
After much public scorn, Lewandowski defended himself and claimed that he wasn’t mocking the story of the child with Down syndrome, but was mocking the person telling the story. He also said he was offended that the media didn’t blame former President Barack Obama for the policy of family separation.
“Lots of Fake News today,” he said on Twitter. “I mocked a liberal who attempted to politicize children as opposed to discussing the real issue which is fixing a broken immigration system.”
Lots of Fake News today. I mocked a liberal who attempted to politicize children as opposed to discussing the real issue which is fixing a broken immigration system. It’s offenseive that the MSM doesn’t want to talk about the fact these policies were started under Obama.
— Corey R. Lewandowski (@CLewandowski_) June 20, 2018
“It’s offenseive [sic] that the MSM doesn’t want to talk about the fact these policies were started under Obama,” he added.
In another tweet, he referenced a report that clarified the story about the Down syndrome migrant child.
In a statement Wednesday, US Customs and Border Protection noted that the girl's separation from her mother was in relation to a smuggling operation, not the "zero-tolerance" policy.
— Corey R. Lewandowski (@CLewandowski_) June 20, 2018
Even many on the right side of the political spectrum were offended by Lewandowski’s surprising and seemingly cruel mockery.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to stop dividing families at the border, but Democrats criticized the order, saying it wouldn’t reunite families already split up, and it would only allow for family detainment.
near my name?