The Truth About Donald Trump’s Controversial Tribute To Rush Limbaugh

Popular right-wing political radio pundit, Rush Limbaugh, died at the age of 70 from lung cancer. His wife, Kathryn Limbaugh, appeared on the beginning of his long-running radio show on Feb. 17, 2021 to confirm his death (via USA Today).

An outpouring of tributes was quickly posted online from fans, members of the media, and politicians alike. Bill O’Reilly honored the radio host while also lambasting the left in a tweet: “Mr. Limbaugh provided a conservative balance against the dangerous left wing corporate media machine.”

As covered by CNN, in February 2020, Donald Trump awarded Limbaugh the Medal of Freedom after it was announced that the radio personality was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. “[The diagnosis] is not good news, but what is good news is that he is the greatest fighter and winner that you will ever meet,” the then-president said to the crowd before presenting the medal.

After news broke about Limbaugh’s passing, the 45th President called into Fox News and spoke to Bill Hemmer and Harris Faulkner on the air. He heaped praise on the radio icon (via the Independent) and said listening to his show was “like a religious experience for a lot of people.” As covered by USA Today, Trump had many kind words for his friend. “Rush is irreplaceable, unique,” he said. “He had an audience that was massive.” 

Trump mentioned that he had spoken to Limbaugh only a few days prior to his passing, and some of his remembrance remarks are already causing controversy.

Why Donald Trump said Rush Limbaugh was "furious"

Donald Trump told the Fox News hosts how “courageous” Rush Limbaugh was while coping with his cancer diagnosis, and Trump also mentioned how supportive Kathryn Limbaugh had been of her husband, per the New York Post.

The kind words for Limbaugh’s character were not the only reason Trump called into the program. He also brought up the November election. “Rush thought we won. And so do I, by the way. I think we won substantially,” Trump told Bill Hemmer and Harris Faulkner. The former president seemed to reference his oft-repeated and baseless claims of voter fraud, saying, “I don’t think that could have happened to a Democrat, you would have had riots going on all over the place.” Trump continued, telling the hosts that Limbaugh was “angry” about the outcome. “I was disappointed by voter tabulation. I think it’s disgraceful what happened,” Trump added, “And [Limbaugh] was furious at it. And many people are furious.”

According to Trump, after Limbaugh received his terminal diagnosis he made it a personal goal to survive “until after the election.” “He worked so hard to get through the election,” Trump said (via Daily Mail) during the call.

Trump revealed that he and Limbaugh had not become friends until Trump ran for president, but the radio host was satisfied with the 45th President’s results while in office. “He was so happy with what we did. We rebuilt the military. All things that we did. We cut taxes, we cut regulations,” Trump said about Limbaugh.

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