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T-Mobile urged to fire Corey Lewandowski for mocking child with Down syndrome

The company's adviser responded with "Womp, womp" when hearing about the 10-year-old, who was separated from her family at the US-Mexico border.

Abrar Al-Heeti Technology Reporter
Abrar Al-Heeti is a technology reporter for CNET, with an interest in phones, streaming, internet trends, entertainment, pop culture and digital accessibility. She's also worked for CNET's video, culture and news teams. She graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Though Illinois is home, she now loves San Francisco -- steep inclines and all.
Expertise Abrar has spent her career at CNET analyzing tech trends while also writing news, reviews and commentaries across mobile, streaming and online culture. Credentials
  • Named a Tech Media Trailblazer by the Consumer Technology Association in 2019, a winner of SPJ NorCal's Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2022 and has three times been a finalist in the LA Press Club's National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards.
Abrar Al-Heeti
2 min read
Corey Lewandowski

Lewandowski is under fire for comments he made about the Trump administration's "zero tolerance policy" of separating some families that cross the US-Mexico border.

Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images

People are calling for T-Mobile to push out its adviser Corey Lewandowski after he mocked a 10-year-old girl with Down syndrome who was taken from her mother at the US-Mexico border.

Lewandowski, a former campaign manager for President Donald Trump, appeared on Fox News' The Story With Martha MacCallum on Tuesday night to talk about the administration's separating members of some families that cross the US-Mexico border

Zak Petkanas, a Democratic strategist and fellow guest on the show, told the story of the 10-year-old girl being separated from her family.

Lewandowski responded with, "Womp, womp," a sound generally conveying a lack of empathy, or suggesting a person got what they deserved or failed. 

"When parents commit crimes by coming into this country, regardless of who their children are, they are separated because we are a nation of laws," Lewandowski said on Fox on Wednesday, defending his earlier comment.

Lewandowski's comments prompted criticism on Twitter. Journalist and television host Megyn Kelly said in a tweet, "This man should not be afforded a national platform to spew his hate."

Others urged T-Mobile to fire Lewandowski.

"In light of Corey Lewandowski's recent chilling appearance on @FoxNews, it's time for both [T-Mobile and Vice President Mike Pence's PAC] to #FireCorey," said one tweet, utilizing a trending hashtag.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to this child and her family during this unprecedented and trying time," Sara Hart Weir, president of the National Down Syndrome Society, reportedly said in a statement.

Lewandowski responded to what he claimed was "fake news," saying he "mocked a liberal who attempted to politicize children as opposed to discussing the real issue, which is fixing a broken immigration system."

T-Mobile didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

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