Trump takes swipe at late Michigan lawmaker, upsetting
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Associated Press
Trump takes swipe at late Michigan lawmaker, upsetting widow
Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich, speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (AP) — President Donald Trump took a swipe at the late Rep. John Dingell during his raucous impeachment-day rally on Wednesday, drawing a quick rebuke from the longtime Michigan congressman's widow and successor in the House.
Trump told the Battle Creek rally that Debbie Dingell had thanked him profusely for providing “A-plus treatment” after her husband's death in February, including ordering flags flown at half-staff.
He quoted her as saying, “Thank you so much. John would be so thrilled. He's looking down.”
Then he added: "I said, 'That's OK. Don't worry about it.' Maybe he's looking up. I don't know."
The remark drew wary oohs and aahs from the crowd in Michigan, where John Dingell was a powerful advocate for the state he represented for more than 59 years. The comment came shortly after Debbie Dingell voted in favor of two articles of impeachment against the president.
Trump then offered: “But let's assume he's looking down.”
Debbie Dingell tweeted her response, telling Trump: “Mr. President, let’s set politics aside. My husband earned all his accolades after a lifetime of service. I’m preparing for the first holiday season without the man I love. You brought me down in a way you can never imagine and your hurtful words just made my healing much harder.”
John Dingell was the longest-serving member of Congress in U.S. history.
His widow wasn't the only one upset by the president's comment.
Republican congressman Fred Upton of Michigan, who voted against impeaching Trump, tweeted: “I’ve always looked up to John Dingell - my good friend and a great Michigan legend. There was no need to 'dis' him in a crass political way. Most unfortunate and an apology is due.”
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Trump Is Certified 100% Charm Free!
But he is a roll of Charmin!
The same Congressman who told Trump to go to hell and Democrats never complained......
It was a dumb attempt at a joke. He shouldn't have said it, it was just dumb. It's one of those inside jokes that work if your audience is 100% with you like your closest friends, but in public it was just a dumb thing to say and he shouldn't have said it.