Businessman and presidential hopeful Donald Trump is facing enormous criticism from the media after he reportedly mocked a New York Times reporter with a congenital joint condition.

As Latin Post reported, the incident took place during a speech in South Carolina, in which Trump said, "Poor guy, you oughta see this guy," before twisting and jerking his arms about as if imitating the reporter, Serge Kovaleski.

Trump denied mocking Kovaleski in a statement on Twitter, implying he was unaware of the reporter's condition.

The controversy came about as the Republican candidate defended his claim that he witnessed thousands of New Jersey Muslims celebrating the destruction of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

Trump challenged Kovaleski and others on their recollection of their post-9/11 reporting. He specifically pointed to an article Kovaleski wrote while at The Washington Post, in which he claimed, "authorities detained and questioned a number of people who were allegedly seen celebrating the attacks and holding tailgate-style parties on rooftops while they watched the devastation on the other side of the river."

The Washington Post says the article's allegations were never corroborated, and in any case, no reporter had ever claimed to have seen thousands of Muslims celebrating the event.

Trump gave a statement to The Washington Post, stating he had no personal knowledge of Kovaleski.

"I have no idea who this reporter, Serge Kovalski [sic] is, what he looks like or his level of intelligence. I don't know if he is J.J. Watt or Muhammad Ali in his prime - or somebody of less athletic or physical ability," Trump said. "Despite having one of the all-time great memories I certainly do not remember him."

Kovaleski said he doubted Trump's claims, particularly as the reporter often covered the businessman while reporting for the New York Daily News between 1987 and 1993.

"The sad part about it is, it didn't in the slightest bit jar or surprise me that Donald Trump would do something this low-rent, given his track record," Kovaleski said.