Selma Blair gushes about ‘humungous honor’ of working with President Biden on disabilities act amid her MS battle – despite facing FURIOUS backlash over ‘sickening’ White House visit

• Blair visited the White House on Monday to mark the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act
• The actress, who has multiple sclerosis, discussed the moment on Today
• It comes as she faced fierce criticism for aligning herself with POTUS, with fans declaring: ‘I respected you until this’

Selma Blair has waxed lyrical about her meeting with President Joe Biden earlier this week – seemingly ignoring the bitter backlash that she faced over her trip to the White House on Monday. 

The Legally Blonde actress and disability rights activist, 51, joined the President at the White House to mark the legacy of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act.

During her momentous visit, Blair, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018, gave a rousing speech after being accompanied by Biden to a ceremony on the White House’s South Lawn. 

Sitting down with Savannah Guthrie, 51, on Thursday’s episode of the Today show, she reflected on the milestone moment in her life, hailing the experience an ‘honor’, despite coming under furious fire on Instagram for working with the President – who her followers slammed as ‘corrupt’ while accusing him of ‘destroying the economy’.

Selma Blair gushed about meeting President Joe Biden during an interview on the Today show

She joined Savannah Guthrie on Thursday’s episode of the ABC show to unpack the event

‘It was really a humongous honor to be there, to represent in any way and commemorate the signing of the ADA and the rehabilitation acts – and to have the people that have mentored me, welcome me into the disabled community, when I’m like, am I enough, am I not enough, where’s my place?’ Blair said. 

‘I love being an ally. I love being welcomed by this community. I have my own disability. And this just means so much.

‘And to honor the late Judy Heumann, who with Jim LeBrecht, really made such changes that I did not realize, before my own disability.’

Ahead of giving a speech at the White House, Blair walked arm-in-arm with Biden on the south lawn, while using a cane and her service dog, an English Labrador named Scout.

Poking fun at their stroll, Blair joked: ‘I finally was walked down an aisle… and it was the President of the United States!’

‘What an aisle it was!’ Guthrie exclaimed. ‘By the way, Scout [Blair’s dog] stole the show again – he literally fell asleep on the President’s foot!’

‘It was amazing,’ Blair continued. ‘And that awkward microphone moment where people could hear me say “sit, stay” and President Biden looks at me, and he’s like, “what?”‘

However, while Blair was full of excitement about her White House visit – her followers on Instagram were less than enthusiastic about her decision to align herself with Biden, with dozens of commenters slamming her for teaming up with the President. 

The Cruel Intentions actress was accompanied by Biden, while also holding onto her cane and her service dog, Scout, at the White House on Monday

Blair gave a rousing speech during a ceremony on the White House ‘s South Lawn

She was pictured being helped by the President before and after her speech

Blair faced a backlash online after uploading snaps of herself and Biden to Instagram

One scolded: ‘The average American can’t afford the medical care you receive, nor a service dog, let alone your outfit, and you stand with Joe Biden who has destroyed this economy? Please.’

Another said: ‘Standing next to this man is nothing to be proud of peace.’

A third wrote: ‘I respected you until this. Pollical affiliation aside this man has hurt more people than he’s helped. Ethics have to come first.’

Comments on the post have since been limited. 

But Blair continued to celebrate, defiantly posting a video montage from the ceremony just 24 hours later and claiming the ‘Biden-Harris Administration will protect the rights of this community’.

She wrote: ‘On the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act anniversaries, we honor progress, hard fought and won, by disability advocates. 

‘These laws make our country more accessible, more equitable, and more just, but there’s more work to do. The Biden-Harris Administration will protect the rights of this community, and ensure that the American Dream is for all, not just for some.’

Blair, who shares son Arthur with ex-Jason Bleick, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease in which the immune system eats away at the protective covering of nerves, in 2018.

The Cruel Intentions actress has been vocal about coming to terms with her diagnosis, previously revealing that she suffered symptoms for years and, at one point, contemplated suicide.

Speaking to British Vogue in April, she said: ‘As an adult, the lassitude and anxiety became terrifying, actually. I made mistakes. Wished myself dead. Attempted suicide. A few times. Out of desperation.’

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by federal agencies, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prevents discrimination against disabled people on everything from employment to parking to voting.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and Biden noted both bills received bipartisan support when clearing Congress.

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