Donald Trump, who in recent weeks has stirred racial tensions, says he has no plans to visit the late Congressman John Lewis as the civil rights icon lies in state at the US Capitol.
"No I won't be going," the president said. "No."
The president delivered the news as he left the White House for a trip to North Carolina. As he took reporters' questions, Mr Lewis' casket had just arrived at the Capitol, where a military honour guard carried his American-flag draped casket up the white stairs and into the rotunda.
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Gathered were lawmakers from both parties and Mr Lewis' family.
Vice President Mike Pence, a former GOP congressman who served with Mr Lewis is expected to visit the Capitol on Monday night. Former Vice President Joe Biden, Mr Trump's presumptive general election foe and a former US senator, also is expected to pay his respects.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke under the Capitol dome with the casket on a black curtain-covered stand in the centre of the room.
Mr Lewis is among only a handful of African-Americans who ever have lied in state in the building.
Attendees wore masks and sat six feet apart.
FBI_Agent_82 on July 27th, 2020 at 19:10 UTC »
Good, last thing I want to hear is how John Lewis wanted him to be president, and he's smiling down on the economy.
whileoceaniasleeps on July 27th, 2020 at 18:15 UTC »
John Lewis got the shit beat out of him and almost died for what he believed in, and still fought until the end. Donald Trump, who was given everything in his life and still pulled the ladder up behind him, isn’t even 1/100th the man Lewis was, and doesn’t belong in the rotunda to so much as pretend he’s got respect to pay. Much better men and women will be there instead.
mymindholdsthekey on July 27th, 2020 at 18:04 UTC »
https://twitter.com/PhilipinDC/status/1287806555304407040
You really surprised? He skipped all services for Elijah Cummings, too.