Trump, in brief Twitter statement on John Lewis, says he's 'saddened' by death of 'civil rights hero'
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Saturday that he was "saddened" by the death of Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights icon whom others in his administration praised as a "giant" who "changed America forever."
"Saddened to hear the news of civil rights hero John Lewis passing," Trump posted on Twitter as his motorcade returned to the White House from his golf course in northern Virginia. "Melania and I send our prayers to he and his family."
The short and understated sentiment made no mention of the animosity that developed between the two men when Lewis questioned the legitimacy of Trump's 2016 election victory and the president attacked Lewis' Atlanta district. Trump, however, was far less loquacious in his tweet than others in the White House.
Honoring John Lewis: Flags lowered to half-staff at the White House and Capitol
Vice President Mike Pence called Lewis "a great man," and White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany noted his "incredible contributions" to the nation.
"John Lewis will be remembered as a giant of the civil rights movement whose selflessness and conviction rendered our nation into a more perfect union and his example will inspire generations of Americans," Pence said in a statement.
Trump signed a proclamation ordering flags flown at half-staff Saturday but did not issue a statement on Lewis' death until midafternoon. Four of his predecessors — Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter — along with congressional leaders of both parties, did so much earlier.
Lewis, diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer in December, died at the age of 80.
Past presidents: Obama, Bush, lawmakers react to Rep. John Lewis' death
Lewis' death comes at a raw moment in the nation's struggle with race relations, as Democrats have accused Trump of stoking longstanding divisions ahead of the presidential election. As protests have continued in the wake of the death of George Floyd, Trump has painted those demonstrations with a broad brushstroke, focusing on the violence that erupted in some cities and largely ignoring peaceful marches.
Floyd, a Black man, died in May after his neck was pinned under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer.
Despite his cancer diagnosis, Lewis had offered his thoughts on those protests, encouraging peaceful demonstrations while condemning the unrest.
"I know your pain, your rage, your sense of despair and hopelessness," he tweeted May 30. "Justice has, indeed, been denied for far too long. Rioting, looting, and burning is not the way. Organize. Demonstrate. Sit-in. Stand-up. Vote. Be constructive, not destructive."
Two days after that tweet, however, federal authorities cleared peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square near the White House minutes before Trump walked across the park to pose for a photo op at St. John's Church. The episode was a defining moment in Trump's handling of the events and has prompted investigations and hearings.
After that incident, the Washington, D.C., government responded by declaring the protest area to be "Black Lives Matter Plaza," painting the organization's name onto 16th Street not far from the White House. Lewis visited the site on June 7, the last time many people saw him in public.
More recently, Trump slammed NASCAR for its decision to ban the display of the Confederate flag at its events and signed an order to protect federal statues, including those honoring Confederate generals that have been toppled or vandalized.
Trump on Friday said he would scale back a controversial federal housing rule intended to curb discrimination. As he seeks to stem his eroding support in battleground suburbs for his race against Democrat Joe Biden, Trump claimed that "suburbia will be no longer as we know it" if the rule – intended to combat housing segregation – is not weakened.
While some condemned Trump for not issuing a statement more quickly on Lewis' death, others encouraged him to tread lightly.
"While the nation mourns the passing of a national hero, please say nothing," Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., tweeted to Trump. "Please don’t comment on the life of Congressman Lewis. Your press secretary released a statement, leave it at that. Please let us mourn in peace."
Trump left the White House on Saturday to spend time at his golf course in northern Virginia. As usual, there was a smattering or supporters and opponents holding signs outside the club. On Saturday, some held signs calling attention to Lewis' legacy.
"We are good trouble," one sign read, photos from journalists traveling with the president showed, a reference to one of Lewis' best-known quotes.
In 2017, Trump lashed out at Lewis, accusing him of being "all talk ... no action or results," after the congressman said he would skip Trump's inauguration and considered Trump an illegitimate president because of Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Rep. John Lewis was an icon of the civil rights movement, and he leaves an enduring legacy that will never be forgotten. We hold his family in our prayers, as we remember Rep. John Lewis’ incredible contributions to our country.
— Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) July 18, 2020
Lewis served for over three decades in Congress and was an organizer of the 1963 March on Washington along with Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"He believed that in all of us, there exists the capacity for great courage, a longing to do what’s right, a willingness to love all people, and to extend to them their God-given rights to dignity and respect," Obama said in his statement on Lewis' passing. "And it’s because he saw the best in all of us that he will continue, even in his passing, to serve as a beacon in that long journey towards a more perfect union."
To say that Trump and Lewis had a contentious relationship would be an understatement.
“I don’t see this president-elect as a legitimate president,” Lewis told NBC's "Meet the Press" a week before the inaugural in January 2017. "I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected and they have destroyed the candidacy of Hillary Clinton."
Trump responded by tweeting an attack on Lewis' congressional record, saying he should "spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart."
In the years since, Lewis refused to attend events at which Trump was scheduled to appear, including the dedication of a civil rights museum in Jackson, Mississippi.
"I think his presence would make a mockery of everything that people tried to do to redeem the soul of America and to make this country better," Lewis said in December 2017.
Trump has drawn criticism for the way he has handled the death of political foes in the past, particularly Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican who died in 2018. The White House was heavily criticized by veteran groups and others for raising the flag two days after McCain’s death. Hours later, amid the outcry, the flags were lowered again.
Months later, Trump delivered an extended attack on McCain during an event intended to highlight the economy. Trump said of McCain that he “never liked him much” and complained that he "didn’t get" a "thank you" from the McCain family for his role in the late senator’s services. Trump allowed one of the planes used as Air Force Two to carry McCain's body to Washington.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Lewis: Trump tweets he was 'saddened' by death of civil rights icon
