In the News

Arkansas Congressman French Hill calls on Trump to apologize for attacking John Dingell

12/19/2019
ABC7

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Congressman French Hill on Thursday called on President Donald Trump to apologize for suggesting that deceased Michigan Congressman John Dingell is in hell.

Trump was speaking at a rally Wednesday in Michigan when he brought up Dingell, who died in February at age 92. He said that Dingell's widow, Debbie, had thanked him for gestures of respect he showed after the Democratic lawmaker's death. Trump recalled that Debbie Dingell called him and said her late husband was looking down and was thrilled with how he was being honored.

"Maybe he's looking up, I don't know," Trump said at the rally. "But let's assume he's looking down."

Hill tweeted Thursday morning that Trump owed Debbie Dingell an apology.

"Despite frustration over the House's madness," he said, referring to the House approving articles of impeachment against Trump, "you don't need to trash former Rep. John Dingell."

Debbie Dingell also responded to Trump's remark.

“Mr. President, let’s set politics aside," she tweeted. "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.

Trump's remark drew criticism from both sides of the aisle. Rep. Fred Upton, a Republican from Michigan, tweeted that it was "most unfortunate and an apology is due."

Former vice president and 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden tweeted, "This is equally as cruel as it is pathetic, and it is beyond unconscionable that our President would behave this way."