The White House said Friday that President Obama offers his condolences to the family, friends and fans of pop star Michael Jackson, who died Thursday at the age of 50.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said he spoke with the president Friday morning about Jackson’s death, and Obama called the “King of Pop” a “spectacular performer, a music icon.”
{mosads}”I think everybody remembers hearing his songs, watching him moonwalk on television during Motown’s 25th anniversary,” Gibbs said. “But the president also said he had aspects of his life that were sad and tragic.”
Jackson was acquitted of charges of child molestation in 2005.
The House of Representatives, led by a large
number of members of the Congressional Black Caucus, held a moment of
silence on the House floor Friday for Jackson.
Just after 11 a.m., Reps. Diane Watson (D-Calif.) and Jesse
Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) took to the floor to speak briefly about the
death of Jackson before
requesting that members rise for a moment of silence.
“Madam Speaker, if there is a God — and I believe there is — and
that God distributes grace and mercy and talent to all of his children,
on Aug. 29, 1958 he touched Gary, Ind.,” Jackson said, flanked by
members of the CBC.
Michael O’Brien contributed to this report.