Tipsheet

ICYMI: CNN Reporter Mocked Mitch McConnell For Needing Help With Stairs; He's A Polio Survivor

Matt Vespa
Matt Vespa  |  October 18, 2017 8:30 AM

Well, here’s an example of the liberal media being classy—and yes­–I’m being sarcastic. President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell held a presser in the Rose Garden Monday, where the two men tried to downplay reports that there is any bad blood between them, among other things—many other things to be exact. Yet, when the two men made their exit, McConnell needed some assistance getting up the stairs. That’s when CNN’s Daniella Diaz decided to crack some jokes about the need for McConnell to lean on Trump to help him climb the steps. As it turns out, McConnell is a polio survivor, so he needs help from time to time, something that Diaz’s colleague Manu Raju tweeted. Fox News has more:

“That hand-lock between Trump and McConnell, though,” Diaz wrote with video of the incident.

A CNN colleague called out Diaz, quoting her tweet and explaining the situation. At the time this article was published, Diaz had not deleted the tweet. Daily Beast Senior Editor Andrew Kirell also asked what was going on in a since-deleted response.

“McConnell is a polio survivor, a reason why stairs can be tricky at times,” CNN's Senior Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju wrote. “McConnell often goes up a step at a time, sometimes needs railing for assistance. This time, used Trump for balance.”

Many users commented on Diaz’s tweet, saying it needs to be removed and criticizing the CNN reporter for the message. “You're making fun of the President of the United States helping a polio survivor that stumbled. Stay classy CNN, stay classy,” one user responded.

Back in 1990, McConnell explained his medical situation in a campaign ad when running for re-election in Kentucky.

“When I was a child and my dad was in World War II, I got polio. I recovered, but my family almost went broke,” McConnell explained.

The tweet is still up, by the way.