President Trump's Contempt Towards People with Disabilities

Donald Trump Has An Utter Contempt Towards People With Disabilities. End It

The current president, Donald Trump is a disaster for people with disabilities. He continues to tell a false story of a disability as a defect, and it has resulted in mortifying policies. The actions undertaken by the Trump administration represent ableism. People with disabilities are categorized as inferior, perpetuating stereotypes, misconceptions and generalizations that inaccurately shape public perceptions. When Trump normalizes ableism at this massive scale, he sets the tone for others to follow, allowing discrimination to become entrenched and excused under the guise of meritocracy or efficiency. Politicians and people with disabilities must vigorously step up to the plate and object to the sickening discriminatory actions perpetuated by Donald Trump. As I did head on with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Rep. Randy Weber, confront and probe the deafening silence of legislators concerning the conduct of Donald Trump and his accomplices. Ignorance will enable Donald Trump to quite conceivably implement the remainder of his planned funding reductions centered on people with disabilities immediately after the 2026 midterm elections.

Main Content

As a person who acquired deafness during infancy, I can certainly appreciate the numerous success stories of people with disabilities and their incredible perseverance. They have lived fulfilling and rich lives. Grasp these facts: People with disabilities have achieved remarkable feats across various fields, demonstrating resilience, talent, and innovative contributions to society. Examples include scientists like Stephen Hawking, artists like Frida Kahlo, musicians like Andrea Bocelli, and activists like Helen Keller, all of whom have left an indelible mark on the world despite facing significant physical or mental challenges. And I would bet that most people are unaware that the following eight things were invented by people with disabilities: Teletypewriter, Cruise control, Motorized scooter, Packing tape, Polyurethane foam rubber, Antibiotics, and ARPANET (precursor to Internet). [1]

Ask your elected representatives what was done when Donald Trump and his administration stopped providing American Sign Language interpreters (ASL) during press briefings and other public events. The Biden administration initiated the policy during April 2021 to include American Sign Language interpreters to all press briefings. This policy was then discontinued by Donald Trump during January 2025. Subsequently, The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration on May 28, 2025.

Ask your elected representatives to reject Trump's desire to cut back disability benefits for low-income and older Americans by up to 20 percent. Ask your elected representatives to ensure that children with disabilities continue to receive specialized instruction in the least restrictive environment possible under the federal Disabilities Education Act.

Ask your elected representatives what was done when Trump insinuated that those employees with disabilities as the cause of recent airline and helicopter mishaps. No evidence supported these assertions. Trump then issued an executive order directing the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to single out individuals with disabilities as suspect and subject to replacement.

Ask your elected representatives what was done when as per the direction of the Trump administration on July 7, 2025, the US Department of Labor formally withdrew its plan for a rule introduced during the Biden administration that would federally end the practice of subminimum wage for disabled people. Thus, fewer opportunities to earn a fair wage will exist for people with disabilities.

Ask your elected representatives what was done when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy remarked in a press conference on April 16, 2025 that autistic children will never pay taxes, they will never hold a job, and so on. Kennedy spoke of autistic children in such a degrading language and without factual basis. Ask what was done after Trump stated that watching the Paralympics for people with disabilities was a "little tough to watch too much, but I watched as much as I could." Trump went as far as mocking the lifetime stutter of Joe Biden and ridiculing the right arm joint disability of a newspaper reporter, Serge Kovaleski. The list of discriminatory transgressions within the Trump administration is endless.

My dialogue with United States Representative Randy Weber of Texas' 14th District left me exceptionally enraged and determined to speak the obvious truths. Rep. Weber of Texas (Republican) proposed a resolution to censure Representative Jasmine Crockett (Democrat) who referred to Governor Glen Abbott of Texas (Republican & wheelchair bound) as "governor hot wheels" and "hot ass mess." I argued that if a censure is recommended for Rep. Jasmine Crockett, then do not hesitate to call out other politicians who have also dishonored the disabled. I asked what done when Trump and Kennedy disrespected the disabled community. In his response, Rep. Weber reiterated to me the comments voiced by Rep. Crockett and disregarded the anti-disabled comments spoken by Trump and Kennedy. My follow-up response to Rep. Weber indicated that his refusal to address my written concerns represented hypocrisy and cowardice.

Politicians must develop a spine, end their unproductive partisan feuds and work together. All constituents must make their voice heard to the Trump administration and condemn Donald Trump's policy of ableism. Write, shout, and denounce Donald Trump, Greg Abbott, Randy Weber and their cohorts concerning the misrepresented perspectives of people with disabilities. It is imperative to continue and participate in an outpouring of peaceful protests so that the full scope of Trump's anti-disability agenda does not come to fruition immediately after the 2026 midterm elections: lawsuits, peaceful marches, advocacy, and direct-action civil disobedience. Recognize that all of us will become disabled if we live long enough. Most of us know someone with a disability - a friend, a family member, a coworker. Persons living with disabilities are proven survivors and have made invaluable contributions to society. Their worth should never be underestimated. They show us what it means to be human, and they teach us all the meaning of acceptance, humility, and compassion.

A disability is not a barrier to becoming successful. Rather it is an incentive. Look up to people with disabilities and enthusiastically applaud their accomplishments. America's more than 70 million disabled citizens deserve so much better than the utter contempt of Donald Trump.

[1] https://set-works.com/8-things-invented-by-people-with-disabilities/

About the Author

Richard Natofsky is a retired finance professional and has an MBA degree. He acquired deafness during infancy and has served as a lifelong advocate for people with disabilities.