Trump Gives Late Reply To John Lewis' Death, Had Tense Relationship With Civil Rights Icon

President Trump took more than 14 hours after the announcement of Rep. John Lewis’ death to say he was "saddened" by the passing of the late civil rights icon, who died late Friday.

Lewis, a Democrat who had represented Georgia in the House for more than three decades, had exchanged tense words with Trump.

“Saddened to hear the news of civil rights hero John Lewis passing,” Trump tweeted Saturday. “Melania and I send our prayers to he and his family.”

Other major figures in the Trump administration also praised Lewis.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany called Lewis “an icon of the civil rights movement” and said “he leaves an enduring legacy that will never be forgotten.” Vice President Mike Pence called Lewis “a great man whose courage and decades of public service changed America forever.”

Lewis and Trump have often been adversarial towards one another. At the beginning of Trump’s term, Lewis said he does not view Trump as a “legitimate president,” citing Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. In response, Trump said Lewis should "spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results."

Lewis refused to attend Trump’s inauguration and later accused him of being a racist. He also voted to impeach Trump in December 2019.

Lewis has frequently taken bold stances, voting against both the Gulf and Iraq wars. He has also sought to restore part of the Voting Rights Act that was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2013.