Trump on his own yet again as he skips farewell to Lewis

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FILE - In this July 18, 2020, file photo, a U.S. flag flies at half-staff over the White House in Washington in remembrance of Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. President Donald Trump did not pay his respects when Lewis lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda. Iwas another break in convention for a president who has broken so many norms, and one that underscored his separation from much of Washington society, along with his dismal relationship with Democrats on Capitol Hill especially members of color. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

WASHINGTON ā€“ One by one, they passed through the grand Capitol Rotunda to pay respects to the civil rights icon.

It was a solemn display of unity as congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle offered praise for longtime Georgia Rep. John Lewis. There was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who called Lewis the ā€œconscience of the Congress"; and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who praised him as a model of courage. Vice President Mike Pence and former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, came as well.

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But missing was a man whose absence spoke volumes: President Donald Trump.

ā€œNo, I wonā€™t be going,ā€ Trump told reporters when asked whether he planned to pay his respects to Lewis, the first Black lawmaker to lie in state in the Rotunda. Lewisā€™ body was later moved to the steps on the Capitolā€™s east side for a public viewing.

Trump's absence was another break in convention for a president who has broken so many norms, and one that underscored his separation from much of Washington society, along with his dismal relationship with Democrats on Capitol Hill ā€” especially members of color.

Trump had long harbored resentments toward Lewis.

A spokeswoman for Lewis, who died of pancreatic cancer, brushed off any talk of politics when asked whether the Lewis family had any communication with the White House about whether Trump should attend, calling it ā€œirrelevant.ā€

ā€œI would say that this is not a political event,ā€ said Brenda Jones, the congressman's longtime spokeswoman. ā€œIt's our time to pay respect to a man who did a great deal for this country. And thatā€™s all we want it to be.ā€

Jones added that ā€œpeople can pay their respect in a lot of different ways. ... He has that right. Let him to do what he wants to do. And I'm sure that John Lewis would be supportive of it.ā€

The White House did not respond to questions about why the president did not attend. But Trumpā€™s off-the-cuff declaration Monday afternoon that he wouldn't go caught some White House aides off guard, according to two administration officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose private conversations.

While the chances of Trump going were always slim, there had been preliminary conversations in the West Wing about Trump potentially making a visit on Tuesday. Trump had previously expressed a reluctance to publicly mourn Lewis because he remained angry about the congressmanā€™s past criticisms.

While the presidentā€™s lingering grudge played a role, White House officials also are leery of sending Trump places he isn't wanted and werenā€™t sure what kind of reception he would have received.

Pence, who had a personal relationship with Lewis, was seen as a safer choice. Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows, like Pence a former House member, and other Cabinet members also attended.

Trump had an antagonistic relationship with Lewis. After Trump's election, Lewis called him an illegitimate president because of Russia's efforts to help him win, and the congressman boycotted Trump's 2017 inauguration as a result. Trump countered by blasting Lewisā€™ Atlanta majority-Black district as ā€œfalling apart" and directed him to ā€œfinally focus on the burning and crime infested inner-cities of the U.S.ā€

In December of that year, Lewis refused to speak at the opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum because Trump would be there. Lewis also endorsed Biden and urged young Black voters to rally behind the former vice president.

While Trump did acknowledge Lewis' death on Twitter, it took him 14 hours to do so and his message felt more perfunctory than heartfelt, especially in contrast with his effusive tribute to television personality Regis Philbin, who died last week.

ā€œSaddened to hear the news of civil rights hero John Lewis passing. Melania and I send our prayers to he and his family,ā€ Trump wrote.

But for many, Trump's absence wasn't missed.

ā€œI think itā€™s better if he doesnā€™t attend," said Phillip Estes, 53, an urban planner from Washington, D.C., who was among the hundreds who gathered to pay their respects to Lewis on Tuesday.

ā€œHe would probably just make it all about himself," Estes said.

Jay Stegall, 33, an American University graduate student originally from Lewisā€™ Atlanta district, echoed those sentiments as he stood with his two young sisters and his 4-year-old daughter.

ā€œIt wouldnā€™t have been authentic,ā€ Stegall said. "It would just have been another photo op for him. He definitely wouldnā€™t have understood the meaning of the moment.ā€

Born to sharecroppers during Jim Crow segregation, Lewis was beaten by Alabama state troopers during the civil rights movement, spoke ahead of Kingā€™s ā€œI Have a Dreamā€ speech at the 1963 March on Washington and was awarded the Medal of Freedom in 2011 by the nationā€™s first Black president.

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Associated Press writer Ashraf Khalil contributed to this report.


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