“ Barron Trump Autistic?” O’Donnell commented on the video in a post on Twitter in 2016. “If so — what an amazing opportunity to bring attention to the AUTISM epidemic.”
In her memoir, according to an advanced copy obtained by The Daily Beast, Melania details how the ordeal left her son with “irreparable damage,” and hints he was bullied in real life as a result.
The former first lady says her son, who was 10 at the time, was bullied following the rumor (Melania, Donald and Barron Trump in 2015) (Getty Images)
“Barron’s experience of being bullied both online and in real life following the incident is a clear indication of the irreparable damage caused,” Melania writes.
“There is nothing shameful about autism (though O’Donnell’s tweet implied that there was), but Barron is not autistic,” Melania says, accusing O’Donnell of “sheer malice.”
“I was appalled by such cruelty,” Melania says.
“It was clear to me that she was not interested in raising awareness about autism. I felt that she was attacking my son because she didn’t like my husband.”
She goes on to describe what happened in the viral video, which was taken down by the original poster after Melania took legal action.
“Someone had painstakingly compiled the footage and added captions like, ‘His hands are moving erratically and aren’t touching each other. Then he was spotted making strange movements in his seat, typical of children with autism,’” she writes.
Melania adds that it was “devastating as a parent” and she felt like her heart “was breaking into pieces.”
Melania Trump has shared details of the ordeal in her new memoir, out October 8 (screengrab / Fox News)
O’Donnell apologized and deleted the tweet following backlash. She said on her website that the tweet “had nothing to do with Donald.”
Her feud with the Republican presidential nominee goes way back.
During a presidential debate against Hillary Clinton, Trump was asked about the language he used to describe women such as “fat pigs” and “disgusting animals.”
“Only Rosie O’Donnell,” he replied.
Melania has been plugging her memoir over the last couple of weeks.
Perhaps the biggest revelation to come from the book is that Melania is pro-choice – something that pits her against her husband.
“Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her own body? A woman’s fundamental right of individual liberty, to her own life, grants her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes,” she writes.
So. He's not unique because of it. It's not like it's rare or anything. He didn't contract a disease.
rolotomassi
5m ago
It’s hard enough trying to grow up with a Dad like his and the media hounding them at every turn without laying more BS on him ! Just leave the young man alone !
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