The president delivered the news as he left the White House for a trip to North Carolina. WASHINGTON (AP) — One by one, they passed through the grand Capitol Rotunda to pay respects to the civil rights icon. “No, I won’t be going,” Trump told reporters when asked whether he planned to pay his respects to Lewis, the first Black lawmaker to lie in state in the Rotunda. Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. But Trump’s off-the-cuff declaration Monday afternoon that he wouldn’t go caught some White House aides off guard, according to two administration officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose private conversations. Jay Stegall, 33, an American University graduate student originally from Lewis’ Atlanta district, echoed those sentiments as he stood with his two young sisters and his 4-year-old daughter. Trump says he won’t go and pay respects to John Lewis at Capitol, Trump says he won’t go pay respects to John Lewis at Capitol, Congressman John Lewis to lie in state in US Capitol Rotunda, Georgia Democrats choose replacement for civil rights hero John Lewis', John Lewis, civil rights icon and longtime congressman, dies, You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification. As he took reporters' questions, Mr Lewis' casket had just arrived at the Capitol, where a military honour guard carried his American-flag draped casket up the white stairs and into the rotunda. Saddened to hear the news of civil rights hero John Lewis passing. “It’s our time to pay respect to a man who did a great deal for this country. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium.
"No I won't be going," the president said. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Trump countered by blasting Lewis’ Atlanta majority-Black district as “falling apart” and directed him to “finally focus on the burning and crime infested inner-cities of the U.S.”. “He would probably just make it all about himself,” Estes said. Learn more about Friends of the NewsHour. Trump in ‘quarantine process’ after top aide gets COVID-19, WATCH: Trump, Biden appeal to Catholics at virtual charity dinner, Democrats press ahead on partisan COVID-19 bill as talks drag, WATCH: Schumer slams GOP senators in vote to protect ACA, WATCH: House Minority Leader McCarthy slams Pelosi on COVID-19 relief, Russia’s Navalny accuses Putin of being behind his poisoning, Push to bring coronavirus vaccines to those in poverty faces trouble, Report finds flaws in Catholic Church abuse-prevention plans, Many pregnant people aren’t getting flu shots, but these bills could help. He definitely wouldn’t have understood the meaning of the moment.”. Melania and I send our prayers to he and his family. Please check your inbox to confirm. The “Celebration of Life” ceremony began on Saturday, a little over a week after the 17-term congressman died at 80 years old. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/Pool, By Sophia Tareen, Elliot Spagat, Associated Press, By Darlene Superville, Amanda Seitz, Associated Press, Read
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2020, Have a tip we should know? President Donald Trump said he won’t be visit the U.S. Capitol to pay respects to civil rights icon and longtime Georgia congressman John Lewis. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Lewis’ body was later moved to the steps on the Capitol’s east side for a public viewing. Top Trump aide Hope Hicks tests positive for coronavirus. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? The first Trump-Biden debate was unruly. Born to sharecroppers during Jim Crow segregation, Lewis was beaten by Alabama state troopers during the civil rights movement, spoke ahead of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the 1963 March on Washington and was awarded the Medal of Freedom in 2011 by the nation’s first Black president. Critics see it as an excuse to push his own agenda. The White House did not respond to questions about why the president did not attend.
Lewis also endorsed Biden and urged young Black voters to rally behind the former vice president. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. Is American civil discourse dead?
“Saddened to hear the news of civil rights hero John Lewis passing.
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But missing was a man whose absence spoke volumes: President Donald Trump. The first Trump-Biden debate was unruly. A spokeswoman for Lewis, who died of pancreatic cancer, brushed off any talk of politics when asked whether the Lewis family had any communication with the White House about whether Trump should attend, calling it “irrelevant.”, READ MORE: 5 takeaways from House hearing with AG Barr, “I would say that this is not a political event,” said Brenda Jones, the congressman’s longtime spokeswoman. Lewis refused to attend Trump’s inauguration in 2017 on the rationale that he was an illegitimate president because of … And I’m sure that John Lewis would be supportive of it.”. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates.
Donald Trump, who in recent weeks has stirred racial tensions, says he has no plans to visit the late Congressman John Lewis as the civil rights icon lies in state at the US Capitol. Associated Press writer Ashraf Khalil contributed to this report. [email protected]. “It wouldn’t have been authentic,” Stegall said. Oct 01 Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines.
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On July 17, Trump tweeted, “Saddened to hear the news of civil rights hero John Lewis passing. Create a commenting name to join the debate, There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. Gathered were lawmakers from both parties and Mr Lewis' family. “It would just have been another photo op for him. All Rights Reserved. Former Vice President Joe Biden, Mr Trump's presumptive general election foe and a former US senator, also is expected to pay his respects.
In December of that year, Lewis refused to speak at the opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum because Trump would be there. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. Left: President Donald Trump did not attend the late Rep. John Lewis' funeral in Atlanta on Thursday.
Vice President Mike Pence, a former GOP congressman who served with Mr Lewis is expected to visit the Capitol on Monday night. READ MORE: Trump restricts immigration amid the pandemic. Trump had previously expressed a reluctance to publicly mourn Lewis because he remained angry about the congressman’s past criticisms. Subscribe to ‘Here's the Deal,’ our politics newsletter.
Email us. Speakers hailed his "good trouble" approach to activism and efforts to keep alive the civil rights movement. President Donald Trump said he won’t be visit the U.S. Capitol to pay respects to civil rights icon and longtime Georgia congressman John Lewis.. Oct 01 A procession over the Edmund Pettus Bridge — the site where Lewis was beaten for protest in 1965 — in Selma, AL, began the ceremony on Saturday.
But for many, Trump’s absence wasn’t missed.
Associated Press … He has that right.