Donald Trump makes disturbing claim about Jesse Jackson after civil rights icon dies at 84
The Reverend Jesse Jackson, a monumental figure in the American civil rights movement whose activism spanned more than six decades, has died at the age of 84. His family confirmed Tuesday that the Baptist minister, two-time presidential candidate, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones.
While a specific cause of death was not immediately cited in the initial announcement, Jackson had waged a public and grueling battle with significant health challenges for years. Since at least 2016, Jackson had lived with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)—a rare and aggressive neurodegenerative brain disease that severely impairs balance, walking, and swallowing. This followed a 2017 disclosure that he had also been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, for which he had sought treatment at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago.
In a poignant tribute, the Jackson family remembered their patriarch as a “servant leader” whose reach extended far beyond his own home. “We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family,” the statement read. “His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions.”
From Selma to the National Stage
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, on October 8, 1941, Jackson’s trajectory from a student activist to a global diplomat was historic. He rose to prominence as a lieutenant to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., standing on the front lines of the movement’s most pivotal marches.
He later shattered political glass ceilings with his “Rainbow Coalition” presidential bids in 1984 and 1988, proving that a Black candidate could mobilize a multi-racial “mosaics” of voters across the United States. The Rainbow PUSH Coalition has announced that public memorials will be held in Chicago, the city that served as his base of operations for decades.
Trump’s Tribute: Praise and Provocation
As condolences poured in from across the political spectrum, a statement from President Donald Trump on Truth Social captured immediate attention for its blend of high praise and characteristic controversy.
Trump described Jackson as a “good man” possessed of “grit and street smarts,” noting that the two had known each other long before his entry into politics. “He was very gregarious – Someone who truly loved people!” Trump wrote.
The President used the occasion to defend his own record against accusations of racism, listing several instances where he claimed to have assisted Jackson’s mission. Trump noted he provided office space for the Rainbow Coalition at 40 Wall Street, worked with Jackson on Criminal Justice Reform, and secured long-term funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). He also cited Jackson’s support for Opportunity Zones, which Trump touted as a landmark economic package for Black entrepreneurs.
A Parting Shot at a Predecessor
However, the tribute took a sharp turn when Trump addressed Jackson’s relationship with the 44th President, Barack Obama. Trump claimed that despite Jackson’s foundational work in paving the way for the first Black president, the feeling between the two was far from mutual.
“He had much to do with the Election, without acknowledgment or credit, of Barack Hussein Obama, a man who Jesse could not stand,” Trump asserted.
The claim—that Jackson “could not stand” Obama—remains unverified and highly contentious. Historically, the relationship between the two Chicago icons was known to be complex, notably marked by a 2008 incident where Jackson was caught on a “hot mic” making disparaging remarks about then-candidate Obama. However, the two later appeared to reconcile, and Jackson remained a vocal supporter of the Obama administration’s broader goals.
As of Wednesday morning, neither the Obama camp nor the Jackson family has issued a formal response to Trump’s specific assertions regarding the personal rift.
While the political world debates these claims, the focus remains largely on the vacuum left by a man who spent 84 years demanding that America live up to its promise. Jesse Jackson’s legacy as a “force of nature” remains secure, even as the conversation surrounding his life continues to stir the nation.