Trump slams Obama for turning Jesse Jackson’s funeral into ‘political hit job’

HEBRON, KENTUCKY: President Donald Trump is revisiting what unfolded during the funeral of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, where several Democratic figures took aim at the administration.

Trump particularly skewered former President Barack Obama, accusing him of politicizing the memorial ceremony. He also pointed to remarks from Jesse Jackson Jr, whose fiery speech criticized Democrats for turning his father’s funeral into a political moment.

Trump blasts Obama over Jesse Jackson funeral speech

During the Kentucky midterm rally on March 11, Trump criticized Obama while recalling events surrounding the funeral of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson.

Trump alleged that Obama turned the memorial into a political moment, saying, “Hussein Obama. He went to Jesse Jackson’s funeral. He spoke, and it was like a political hit job.”

Trump went on to claim that Jackson’s family was upset over the speech, adding, “and the family of Jesse Jackson got angry as hell at him.”

He further asserted that tensions between the two were well known, saying, “Because they understand they hated each other. You know, it was there, but?” 

Trump then described what he said he observed afterward, “I loved watching that. The family goes outside, and they start screaming at him.” 

He concluded by linking the moment to broader criticism of Democrats, adding, “A short time ago under Joe Biden and his allies in Hussein Obama.”

Obama takes aim at Trump during funeral speech

Barack Obama took aim at the Trump administration during a speech at the funeral of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson in Chicago on March 6, without directly naming it.

Speaking at the star-studded service, which also featured speeches from former Presidents Joe Biden and Bill Clinton, as well as civil rights figures like the Rev Al Sharpton, Obama reflected on the challenges facing democracy today.

“We are living in a time when it can be hard to hope,” Obama said. “Each day we wake up to some new assault on our democratic institutions. Another setback the idea of the rule of law. An offense to common decency.”

He continued, "Every day you wake up to things you just didn’t think were possible. Each day, we’re told by those in high office to fear each other, and to turn on each other. And that some Americans count more than others. And that some don’t even count at all. Everywhere we see greed and bigotry being celebrated and bullying and mocker masquerading as strength.”

He added that “it’s hard to hope in those moments,” but praised Jackson as a source of inspiration: “This man, Rev Jesse Jackson, inspires us to take a harder path. His voice calls on each of us to be heralds of change, to be messengers of hope. ”