Trump: ‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin ‘will be missed’

by Jordan Fabian - 08/16/18 11:48 AM ET

President Trump on Thursday marked the death of legendary singer Aretha Franklin, saying the “Queen of Soul” will be missed by many Americans.

“The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is dead. She was a great woman, with a wonderful gift from God, her voice. She will be missed,” he tweeted

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is dead. She was a great woman, with a wonderful gift from God, her voice. She will be missed!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 16, 2018

Speaking minutes later during a Cabinet meeting, Trump offered his “warmest best wishes and sympathies” to Franklin’s family and said her “extraordinary legacy will thrive and inspire many generations to come.”

{mosads}Trump claimed to have known Franklin well and said she worked for him “on numerous occasions,” though it’s unclear what arrangement he was referring to.

Franklin attended the grand opening of the Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York City in 1997.

She also performed at one of Trump’s Atlantic City casinos in the 1980s.

Franklin died earlier Thursday at her home in Detroit after battling advanced pancreatic cancer, according to a statement from her family

The “Respect” and “Think” singer won 18 Grammy Awards and was a pioneer in breaking down barriers for African-American women musicians in her more than six-decade-long career.

Politicians from across the political spectrum offered condolences for Franklin, who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor, in 2005.

Franklin also performed “America (My Country, ‘Tis of Thee)” at the 2009 inauguration of President Obama. But she demurred in December 2016 when asked if she was willing to perform at Trump’s

“That’s a good question,” she told The Hill at the time.

Updated at 12:25 p.m.

Tags Donald Trump