Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) blasted President Trump on Sunday, for saying that the Paralympics were “tough to watch.”
The president made the comments on Friday, during a White House event where he honored Team USA Olympians and Paralympians at the White House.
Trump said, “What happened with the Paralympics was so incredible and so inspiring to me,” he said at 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.”
Duckworth fired back at President Trump for saying he had a tough time watching the games.
“It’s not ‘tough to watch’ incredible @Paralympics athletes compete and showcase their talents, it’s inspiring. These brave athletes overcome a lot to get to the finish line,” Duckworth tweeted.
Duckworth is a military veteran who lost both legs in Iraq in 2004, after her helicopter was shot down.
The senator from Illinois wasn’t alone in interpreting Trump’s comments as a slight at the Paralympics. The Paralympics pushed back on the president via their Twitter account:
A slew of other athletes and celebs also joined in the criticism of Trump, including Cher and gay activist skater Adam Rippon:
However, it seems completely contradictory that Trump would sing the praises of the Paralympic athletes, lauding how “incredible” and “inspiring” they were. While at the same time saying the games weren’t a compelling watch.
A contradiction that even outspoken critics such as MSNBC’s Chris Hayes picked up on:
Follow Dylan Gwinn on Twitter @themightygwinn