Debbie Dingell hailed for 'powerful' response to Donald Trump attacking her over her husband's funeral

WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic lawmaker Debbie Dingell has addressed Donald Trump's Truth Social post attacking her over her husband's funeral in a recent CNN interview.

According to an MSNBC report the former president, calling Dingell a "LOSER," accused her of being ungrateful after he honored her late husband, John Dingell, who died in February 2019, by lowering the US flags to be flown at half-staff.

In response to his mocking comments about her grieving her husband's death, she chose the high road during a conversation with CNN's Kaitlan Collins on Wednesday, December 27.

"We got to treat each other with dignity and respect. Civility matters, words have consequences. We're in a holiday right now that so many people have had a tough, hard year. We need some calm, some love, some hope, not more negative words with division. And I think each and every one of us has a responsibility to stand up and ask everybody to treat each other with that respect and dignity," the Michigan Congresswoman said.

The attack started with Trump posting an impolite Christmas wish on his Truth Social account with insulting remarks against Joe Biden and special counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing the investigations against the former president's role in the Jan 6 insurrection. The leading GOP presidential candidate wished a Merry Christmas with an infamous remark, "MAY THEY ROT IN HELL."

Dingell harshly criticized this, calling it "one of the most pathetic" wishes she had ever heard.

Debbie Dingell says her husband 'earned' the honors

Dingell emphasized that the honors her late husband received were "earned" by him for his six-decade-long service in the House of Representatives. 

The Congresswoman said, "He goes back to my late husband, who was a giant, a great man who touched many things, and he earned everything he got at his funeral. When he was buried, it was Nancy Pelosi and actually Mitch McConnell and others that helped arrange some of the things."

She also denied Trump's claims of her calling him "crying uncontrollably" for honoring her late husband's funeral.

"I remember I did not call Donald Trump, he called me and I remember his kind words that day. I was grateful that he lowered the flags, and I remember that act of kindness," the lawmaker told CNN.

She added, "I choose to remember it as an act of kindness and a touching thing at a very hard time. And maybe all of us could remember that just having empathy and compassion and a little kindness will make everybody's day a little better."

Amid ongoing legal troubles, Trump's controversial Christmas wishes coincide with the Colorado Supreme Court ruling him ineligible for the presidency. Despite leading GOP polls for 2024, he's barred from the state's primary ballot.

Internet applauds Debbie Dingell for taking the highroad

Internet users are hailing the Congresswoman for not dropping into Trump's level and instead remembering his "act of kindness." Social media reactions attributed her response as a "class act" and an "example of civility."

One user remarked, "Powerful."

Another user noted, "She scares him because she’s a strong woman. Debbie Dingell is a class act."

"Rep Debbie handled questions referencing DT’s ugly remarks about her or her deceased husband with grace and class. DT wants the media to highlight his posts to validate his political position," a third user responded.

A fourth user added, "Very well said. The amount of self-control and decency required to not attack Trump is impressive. The only thing I didn't agree with her on is her calling Trumps post "one of the worst". It was THE worst. Nothing comes close."

One user appreciated the host and the Congresswoman, saying, "Well done, Kaitlan. The two of you set an example of civility that anyone can see and follow."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.