YouTuber who faced lawsuit threat from Melania Trump over video claiming her son Barron, 10, could be autistic promises to remove the clip 

  • Melania Trump threatening to sue over video implying her son has autism
  • She has hired a lawyer who has asked YouTube poster to remove video  
  • They say the video falsely claims 10-year-old Barron Trump is autistic
  • Legal letter calls out Rosie O'Donnell as a 'bully' for sharing video online
  • She was slammed for the Twitter post by angry parents of autistic children
  • O'Donnell said her message bore no 'ill will' towards Barron Trump
  • She said her three-year-old daughter Dakota was diagnosed in September 

A YouTuber who faced a legal threat from Melania Trump over a video which claimed her son Barron could be autistic has vowed to remove the clip. 

James Hunter created the video in an effort to stop people bullying ten-year-old Barron Trump online. 

Hunter, who is on the autism spectrum himself, wanted to highlight the issue, however, Trump and his wife Melania threatened to sue Hunter claiming the youngster is not autistic.  

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Melania Trump has hired a lawyer who is threatening to sue over a YouTube video that suggests her 10-year-old son Barron has autism  

Speaking to Gossip Cop, Hunter said he did not want to cause any hurt to the Trump family. Instead he wanted to raise the profile of the 'autism epidemic'.

He said: 'I’m honestly kinda scared right now. The only reason I made the video is because I saw how much social media was bullying Barron Trump, and I wanted it to stop. I’d be really sad if I’ve made the situation worse, but I never could’ve imagined that the video would get so much press.

'I was just sending it privately to people who were bullying him to explain to them that Barron might be autistic, and that’s it isn’t okay to bully him for it, because I know what it’s like to be bullied for being autistic. But then Rosie O’Donnell shared it and it blew up.

'I myself am on the spectrum, and I honestly just wanted to bring light to the autism epidemic. I have a lot of respect for Melania Trump. I believe she’s a very smart and I’ll think she’ll be a great First Lady.'

Hunter claimed he will remove the video if asked. 

Rosie O'Donnell defended speculating if Barron Trump was autistic, explaining that she had come to recognize symptoms after her three-year-old daughter Dakota (above) was diagnosed with the condition earlier this year

The President-elect's wife has hired a lawyer who has asked for the YouTube video to be taken down because it falsely claims Barron is autistic, TMZ reports. 

Attorney Charles J. Harder sent a letter threatening a lawsuit against the man who posted the video, James Hunter, after he pointed out behavioral traits of Barron's that could be signs of autism.

The legal letter states that Barron is not autistic and also calls out Rosie O'Donnell as a 'bully'.

O'Donnell shared the video of Trump's son on Twitter last week with the caption: 'Barron Trump Autistic? if so - what an amazing opportunity to bring attention to the AUTISM epidemic.'

The row began on Monday when O'Donnell shared an anti-bullying video which speculated that the president-elect's 10-year-old son may have the condition 

The video speculated that Barron may be autistic based on the way he clapped during an appearance at the Republican National Convention in July with his family. 

Trump's lawyer said Barron only did this once at the end of a long day, but insisted he 'claps normally' most of the time. 

Melania is not threatening to sue O'Donnell but has asked for the video to be taken down and an apology issued.  

O'Donnell was forced to pen an emotional message to fans on her website on Saturday after her initial tweet speculating if Barron had autism sparked fury.

The comedian defended questioning if Barron was autistic by explaining that her own three-year-old daughter Dakota was diagnosed with the condition in September and she recognizes the signs.

Insisting that her post was 'from the heart', O'Donnell said it had 'nothing' to do with her old foe Donald Trump

'I have no ill will for his children or any children,' said O'Donnell.  

It was uploaded by YouTube user James Hunter on November 11 under the title 'Is Barron Trump Autistic? #StopTheBullying'. 

After reposting the video, O'Donnell was inundated by angry parents and social media users who described the post as 'evil'. Many said it was a new low in her ongoing, public spat with Trump.

'Rosie, as a parent of a child with autism - I am extremely insulted. This wasn't meant to help raise awareness. Just plain cruel,' one said.

'I am the mom of an 11 yr old with ASD and I am in tears that Rosie did this!! Shame on her!!,' one angry mother wrote.

Another said: 'Is Rosie O'Donnell really going after Barron Trump? That's low even for her. Attacking children bc you don't like their parent (s) is wrong. 

'I think it's disgusting and evil what Rosie O'Donnell said about Trump's son. It's one thing to attack a politician but it's evil to attack their children,' others fumed.  

Among apparent 'signs' of autism that were pointed out by the video was Barron's style of clapping during his father's appearance at the Republican National Convention 

The video implored social media users not to 'bully' Barron. It said his straight face during his father's acceptance of the nomination was another indicator of autism

On Saturday, O'Donnell however said the post was well-wished and entirely independent of her political beliefs. 

'My 3.5 yr old daughter dakota was diagnosed in September with HFA – high functioning autism... 

'When I saw the anti bullying video that mentioned Barron, it spoke to the symptoms many ASD kids have. It was educational and informational. 

'This autism subject had nothing to do with Donald though I admit he does trigger me in all ways. 

'I have no ill will for his children or any children and if u knew anything about me u would know that (sic).'

In a separate tweet, she said: 'I didn't make the video, I watched it, and I found it compelling. 

'Not my movie clip. Lots of us, who raise autistic children, notice things many would miss. Somethings felt familiar.' 

She added the hashtag 'NoshameAUTISM'.   

ROSIE O'DONNELL ON WHY SHE SHARED VIDEO OF BARRON TRUMP 

'Here is how it went down. My 3.5 yr old daughter Dakota was diagnosed in September with HFA – high functioning autism. I have been immersed in that world/reality since. learning – reading – asking questions, It's all autism – all the time for the newly diagnosed as we try to grab onto anything to keep us standing. The knowledge we r not alone, there r others living this too. 

'When I saw the anti bullying video that mentioned Barron it spoke to the symptoms many ASD kids have it was educational and informational. These symptoms so many do not understand– I thought – how amazing IF it is true. 

'IF it is true – I tweeted from my heart. It would help so much with the autism epidemic. 1 in 55 kids is an epidemic. Donald and I agree on that and not much else. 

'I feel he is a clear and present danger but this autism subject had nothing to do with Donald. Though i admithe does trigger me in all ways.

'I have no ill will for his children –or any children –and if u knew anything about me –u would know that. Donald does not have the power to change the facts to re write history so speak true – stand tall. THE WORLD IS WATCHING.

'For those who felt me a horror what can i say humans we try our very best and fail often. Peace out as we try to save democracy from this madman who thinks OUR country is his.' 

 

Trump and O'Donnell kicked off their bitter feud long before the November 8 election.

It began in 2006 when O'Donnell was a host on The View and continued for years.

Throughout his campaign for the White House, O'Donnell regularly took swipes at the president-elect. 

The 70-year-old has labelled her a 'fat pig', 'slob' and 'total degenerate' over the years and even brought her up in the presidential debates.   

When Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton accused Trump of sexism during the debate at Hofstra University, New York, he took the opportunity to take another jab at O'Donnell.

O'Donnell responded by explaining that she saw similarities in Barron's behavior to that of her three-year-old daughter Dakota (pictured) who was diagnosed with autism in September  

O'Donnell has shared various tweets defending herself for sharing the video

Trump and O'Donnell kicked off their bitter feud long before the November 8 election

WHAT IS AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER? 

Autism is a general term for a group of complex disorders of brain development.

It is characterized by difficulties with interacting socially, communicating verbally and non-verbally and repetitive behaviors.

The most obvious signs of autism tend to show between two and three years of age and they affect daily functioning.

Around one in 68 American children are on the autism spectrum, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The main autism symptoms are social deficits, language impairment and repetitive behaviors.

While there is no cure for autism, there are therapies and behavioral interventions designed to remedy specific symptoms and can improve those symptoms. 

'This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs,' Clinton said.

Clinton did not mention O'Donnell but Trump responded using her name, implying she was the only woman he'd ever verbally attacked.

'Somebody who's been very vicious to me, Rosie O'Donnell – I said very tough things to her. And I think everybody would agree that she deserves it, and nobody feels sorry for her,' Trump said. 

O'Donnell hit back at Trump after the debate calling him an 'orange anus'.

At the time O'Donnell responded via Twitter saying 'he will never be President' before tweeting a link to a clip from The View in 2006 that shows her mocking Trump, a TV moment that is believed to be the origin of their feud. 

'The 5 mins orange anus can't seem to get over - tell the truth - shame the donald [sic],' she wrote alongside it. 

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