UPDATE: The man who posted the video suggesting Barron Trump is autistic now says he will take the video down if Melania Trump wishes.
Previously…
Melania Trump is suing-mad over the suggestion that her son Barron might suffer from autism.
America’s next First Lady has sent a letter threatening a lawsuit against the poster of a YouTube video suggesting that 10-year-old Barron could be autistic, TMZ reports.
According to TMZ, the letter states that the video — which cites supposed signs of autism, such as clapping without slapping his hands, is wrong,
The letter also calls B.S. on the claim that the video is an attempt to “stop the bullying” against the younger Trump, stating, “The video did instigate further bullying by Rosie O’Donnell and others.”
O’Donnell drew heavy criticism after tweeting a link to the video with the caption, “Barron Trump Autistic? if so — what an amazing opportunity to bring attention to the AUTISM epidemic.”
Trump’s attorney, Charles Harder, told TheWrap in a statement, “This law firm represents First Lady-elect Melania Trump and her 10-year-old son, Barron Trump. A video was posted at YouTube recently speculating that Barron might be autistic. He is not. The video includes the hashtag “StopTheBullying” but yet the video itself is bullying by making false statements and speculation about a 10-year old boy for the purpose of harassing him and his parents. The online bullying of children, including Barron Trump, should end now.”
Trump is asking that the video be deleted, and that the person who posted it issue an apology.
The video has been viewed over 1.2 million times on YouTube since being uploaded on Nov. 11.
“Donald Trump’s youngest son Barron Trump might be autistic, and it’s time for people to stop bullying him for his ‘strange’ behavior. Let’s follow Melania Trump and #StopTheBullying,” the video description reads.
The seven-minute video points to several of Barron’s mannerisms, captured on camera during the few times he’s appeared on TV, as evidence he may be autistic.
“His hands are moving erratically and aren’t touching each other,” text reads over footage of the boy clapping for his president-elect father. “Then he was spotted making strange movements in his seat, typical in children with autism.”
After cutting to a video of a man making fun of Barron’s mannerisms on stage next to Trump the night he was declared the president-elect, the text continues, “This bullying is absolutely unacceptable, whether he has autism or not.”