Washington, Nov 27 (EFE).– Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump sparked yet another controversy by ridiculing a journalist who suffers from a joint condition that affects his ability to move his arms.

True to form, the real estate magnate not only refused to say he’s sorry but is now demanding a public apology from the newspaper for saying that he offended the reporter.

It all began when Trump cited last Saturday an article that journalist Serge Kovaleski wrote for The Washington Post in 2001 to uphold the candidate’s claim that thousands and thousands of people in New Jersey celebrated the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Towers.

Kovaleski, who has limited mobility of the limbs as a result of arthrogryposis, pointed out this week that his article mentioned the arrest and questioning of “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 (Hudson) river.”

None of those allegations were ever substantiated and Trump’s claim that “thousands” in New Jersey celebrated the terrorist attacks has been rebutted by law enforcement and government officials.

Last Tuesday, Trump answered Kovaleski’s comments by ridiculing the journalist during a campaign event in South Carolina.

“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, jerking his arms as he spoke.

The New York Times, where Kovaleski works now, blasted Trump’s attack on the reporter.

“We think it’s outrageous that he would ridicule the appearance of one of our reporters,” a spokesman for the newspaper said.

The magnate snapped back with a statement criticizing the Times.

“They should focus on the survival of their newspaper and not on dishonest and very bad reporting about me,” Trump said.

The billionaire developer said he had no knowledge of Kovaleski’s physical condition when he made the comments in South Carolina.

The candidate said he had no memory of Kovaleski, though the journalist covered Trump extensively between 1987 and 1993 while working for the New York Daily News.

This wrangle is one more on the long list of controversies that have marked Trump’s campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

Trump has been the leader for months in surveys for the Republican primaries, and now has 27.5 percent of voter preference according to Real Clear Politics. EFE

On Saturday, Trump headed to the Gulf Coast of Florida, where he promised to address the issue of disability in the United States. He posted the following update on Twitter before the rallies:

Virtually no-one has spent more money in helping the American people with disabilities than me. Will discuss today at my speech in Sarasota
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 28, 2015