President Donald Trump has issued a statement about Rev. Jesse Jackson in the wake of the civil rights leaders’ death.
Jackson, 84, passed away on Tuesday (Feb 17) for reasons still unknown. Trump took to Truth Social to reflect on his relationship with the fiery activist.
“The Reverend Jesse Jackson is Dead at 84. I knew him well, long before becoming President. He was a good man, with lots of personality, grit, and “street smarts.” He was very gregarious – Someone who truly loved people!” the president said in the post.
“Despite the fact that I am falsely and consistently called a Racist by the Scoundrels and Lunatics on the Radical Left, Democrats ALL, it was always my pleasure to help Jesse along the way,” Trump continued.
“I provided office space for him and his Rainbow Coalition, for years, in the Trump Building at 40 Wall Street; Responded to his request for help in getting CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM passed and signed, when no other President would even try; Single handedly pushed and passed long term funding for Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), which Jesse loved, but also, which other Presidents would not do; Responded to Jesse’s support for Opportunity Zones, the single most successful economic development package yet approved for Black business men/women, and much more,” the president added.
“Jesse was a force of nature like few others before him. He had much to do with the Election, without acknowledgment or credit, of Barack Hussein Obama, a man who Jesse could not stand. He loved his family greatly, and to them I send my deepest sympathies and condolences. Jesse will be missed!” Trump concluded.
Jesse Jackson and Donald Trump’s relationship
In 1999, Jesse Jackson gave President Trump glowing reviews when Trump briefly explored a presidential bid on the Reform Party ticket.
He extended those praises in a press conference about the Rainbow/PUSH coalition. At the time, Jackson called Trump a “friend” and “in terms of reaching out and being inclusive, he’s done that, too,” before introducing Trump to speak.
However, fast forward to 2016, Jackson’s sentiments towards Trump changed once he entered politics as a Republican and later won the presidency. A vocal critic of Trump, Jackson condemned his positions on immigration, voting rights and race, arguing that the administration’s policies harmed the very communities Jackson had spent decades advocating for.
Jackson began as a young protégé to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement and maintained his status as a prominent civil rights leader for more than seven decades, having served as a shadow delegate and senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. His dual bids for the Democratic presidential nomination inspired Black america with his ability to have crossover appeal with white voters.