On Monday, during a public interview with conservative influencer, Benny Johnson, Eric Trump used the term “mongoloids” in reference to protestors in Los Angeles. The use of this slur (one historically weaponized against people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities) was not only deeply offensive, but a painful reminder of how far we still have to go in our fight for true disability, inclusion and respect.

Let us be clear: “Mongoloid” is a term rooted in racist, ableist pseudoscience.

It was once a diagnostic label used to describe individuals with Down syndrome based on harmful, discredited theories that linked intellectual disability to racial typologies. The term was officially removed from medical vocabulary decades ago, but its echoes remain in how society continues to marginalize and stigmatize disabled people.
Today, it is widely recognized as a slur- for good reason. It dehumanizes. It reduces a person to a stereotype. And when it’s used casually, as a punchline or insult, it reinforces the notion that people with disabilities are “less than,” disposable, or a joke.

That hurt.

It hurts the families who have fought for generations to have their children seen not as burdens, but as human beings with value, dreams, and rights. It hurts self-advocates who have spent their lives challenging the idea that disability means inferiority. And it hurts every person who knows those words, especially when spoken by those in power for our country, shape how society treats its most vulnerable members.

Every day, individuals, advocates, and allies in the disability rights movement are fighting to be seen, heard, and respected. That fight includes access to healthcare, employment, education, and public spaces. But it also includes the words we use. Language is never “just language.”

Words reflect beliefs. Words shape culture. Words can either uphold dignity or dismantle it.

When high-profile individuals like Eric Trump use slurs (especially in public forums), they send a dangerous message that ableism is acceptable, that cruelty is permissible, and that people with disabilities are fair game for ridicule. That is not leadership. That is not acceptable.

We are calling for accountability, not only from Eric Trump, but from all who remain silent in moments like this. Being a leader, whether in politics, business, media, or community life—means being mindful of the impact of your words. It means recognizing when you’ve caused harm and taking steps to repair it.

We also call on the media, educators, and public institutions to use this as a teaching moment.

Let’s have conversations about ableism. Let’s educate ourselves about the history of terms like “mongoloid.” Let’s commit to using language that reflects the dignity and humanity of all people.

To the Disability Community, on behalf of the Center for Disability Rights: We see you. We hear you. We are standing with you. Our collective liberation depends on building a society where no one is dehumanized for how they move, think, learn, or live. That means fighting ableism in our systems—and in our speech.

We can do better. We must do better. Because every person deserves to live in a world where they are not the punchline of someone else’s cruelty.