History Listory

A chronological record of major political events in modern American history.

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Disabled + Mental Illness

2024

2024-08-22 During the DNC, Tim Walz’s 17-year-old son went viral for his tearful sentiment over his father. The next day, several conservative commentators received backlash for their posts mocking Gus Walz who suffers from several diagnosed mental illnesses.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/24/democratic-convention-tim-walz-son-emotions-criticized-backlash

https://okcfox.com/news/nation-world/conservative-commentator-ann-coulter-faces-backlash-for-now-deleted-post-mocking-tim-walzs-son-gus-democratic-national-convention-fathers-acceptance-speech-vice-presidential-nominee-autistic-non-verbal-learning-disorder-anxiety-adhd

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/sudden-attention-for-tim-walzs-son-brings-focus-to-challenges-of-people-with-learning-disabilities

https://deadline.com/2024/08/ann-coulter-deletes-post-mocking-gus-walz-backlash-rosie-odonnell-ana-navarro-1236048405/

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/08/22/dnc-live-updates-coverage/ann-coulter-tweet-gus-walz-00175842

2025 January

2025-01-20 Trump rescinded Executive Order 14035 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/initial-rescissions-of-harmful-executive-orders-and-actions/

2025 February

2025-02-01 The Trump administration cancelled Charting My Path, which was designed to help students with disabilities prepare for life after high school.

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/14/nx-s1-5345870/trump-doge-students-disabilities

2025 September

2025-09-08 Multiple news articles reported that Trump paused funding for special education programs including special education teacher training. One article quoted the U.S. Department of Education as saying this department is “inconsistent with, and no longer effectuates, the best interests of the federal government”, further citing that organizations were only given one week to submit an appeal.

https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/trump-canceled-millions-for-special-education-teacher-training-whats-next/2025/09

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2025/09/11/trump-administration-yanks-funds-from-dozens-of-special-education-programs/31622/

https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-administration-pauses-6b-education-programs-ahead-school/story?id=123403964

2025 November

2025-11-27 Trump included “…the seriously retarded governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, does nothing…” in his Thanksgiving message on Truth Social.

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115625429081411360

2025 December

2025-12-04 Tim Walz reported that people were driving past his home shouting the “R” word. For context, there have been two widely reported incidents concerning the Walz family. Back in August 2024 several conservative commentators posted about and harassed his disabled son Gus Walz for tearing up at the DNC over his father’s nomination. In November 2025 Trump included “…the seriously retarded governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, does nothing…” in his Thanksgiving message on Truth Social.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/3907925/tim-walz-says-people-are-using-r-word-while-driving-by-his-house/#:~:text=Tim%20Walz%20says%20people%20are,while%20driving%20by%20his%20house

https://www.montclair.edu/college-of-communication-and-media/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/12/Trump-R-Word-Spike-on-X-.pdf

https://dailymontanan.com/2025/12/06/the-unfortunate-resurrection-of-the-r-word/

2025-12-11 Marco Rubio announced the White House planned to get rid of Calibri font in all their official documents and replace it with Times New Roman, claiming that Calibri font was too “woke”. Prior to this change, Calibri font was used because it was easier for those with disabilities (for example, those with dyslexia or low vision) to read because this font excludes the decorative tops and tails at the ends of letters.

https://fortune.com/2025/12/11/calibri-is-woke-and-times-new-roman-is-maga-the-culture-wars-come-for-fonts/

https://www.npr.org/2025/12/11/nx-s1-5640715/state-department-font-times-new-roman-calibri

2025-12-12 The Trump administration removed sign language interpreters from press briefings, stating the service “would severely intrude on the President’s prerogative to control the image he presents to the public”.

https://www.fredericknewspost.com/public/ap/trump-administration-says-sign-language-services-intrude-on-trumps-ability-to-control-his-image/article_336f09d2-39d6-537e-9951-58192869761b.html

https://www.live5news.com/2025/12/15/trump-administration-says-sign-language-services-intrude-trumps-ability-control-his-image/

2025-12-17 During a confirmation hearing for judicial nominees, Senator Kennedy grilled Justin Olson about his past sermons where he allegedly stated things such as disabled people should not marry and that wives should be subject to their husbands.

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/republican-senator-grills-trump-judicial-nominee-religious-sermons-2025-12-17/

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/12/indiana-southern-district-federal-judge-nominee-justin-olson-disabled-people-marriage-benefits-cancellation-medicaid-ssi/

2026 January

2026-01-14 In addition to the billions of dollars in cuts already, the Trump administration added millions of dollars in funding cuts against substance abuse and mental health programs.

https://www.npr.org/2026/01/14/nx-s1-5677104/trump-administration-letter-terminating-addiction-mental-health-grants

2026 March

2026-03-17 Trump said Newsom shouldn’t be president because he has dyslexia. He stated in the Oval Office, “…with a low IQ person, you know, ‘cuz Gavin New-Scum has admitted that he has a – that he has learning disabilities. Honestly, I’m all for people with learning disabilities but not for my President, um, I want…I think a President should not have a learning disability, okay? And, I know it’s highly controversial to say such a horrible thing. The President of the United States, Gavin New-Scum admitted that he has learning disabilities, dyslexia….”

https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/16/politics/trump-newsom-learning-disability-dyslexia

https://www.kltv.com/2026/03/17/trump-says-gov-gavin-newsom-shouldnt-be-president-because-hes-dyslexic/

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/T3zJsOPpjKA

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gjnwmm984o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ8L62T-C-w

https://www.nbcnews.com/video/shorts/trump-says-people-with-learning-disorders-shouldn-t-be-president-259606085749

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/california/2026/03/17/president-donald-trump-attacks-california-gavin-newsom-for-his-learning-disability-dsylexia/89193406007/