In a moment of profound national reflection, the esteemed Civil Rights activist and luminary, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, has departed. The news of his passing, at the venerable age of 84, has prompted a wave of tributes from across the American political landscape, including a notably gracious commendation from President Donald Trump.
Reverend Jackson, the formidable founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, succumbed peacefully on the morning of February 17, 2026, surrounded by his loved ones. The organization he built, a bastion of social justice, released a statement confirming his death, marking the end of an era for the struggle for equality in the United States.
President Donald Trump took to his platform, Truth Social, to offer a heartfelt and personal tribute. In his message, President Trump reminisced about a relationship that predated his ascent to the highest office. “I knew him very well, long before becoming president,” the President wrote. “He was a good man, possessed of immense personality, considerable grit, and formidable ‘street smarts.’ He was exceedingly gregarious—a man who genuinely cherished his fellow human beings.”
President Trump extended his deepest sympathies to the Jackson family, adding, “He loved his family greatly, and to them I send my most profound sympathies and condolences. Jesse will be sorely missed.” This tribute was particularly resonant given the historical connection between the two men; many years before his presidency, a young Donald Trump had offered office space in one of his Manhattan skyscrapers to Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a gesture of support that underscored a long, albeit complex, acquaintance.
Reverend Jackson’s legacy is one of monumental significance. His career was a nuanced tapestry of American history. He stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the tumultuous struggles of the 1960s, and later channeled that activism into political candidacy, mounting two substantial campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination. His contributions were ultimately recognized with the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
For decades, he dedicated his life to ameliorating the circumstances of African Americans, serving as an inspirational force for both his community and the nation. Former President Barack Obama, whose own historic ascent was built upon the foundations laid by Jackson and his contemporaries, articulated this sentiment perfectly, stating, “We stood on his shoulders.”
While the official cause of death has yet to be disclosed, it is understood that Reverend Jackson had been hospitalized in recent months for a degenerative condition. He leaves behind a substantial legacy in his six children—three sons and three daughters—who survive him. The relationship between President Trump and Reverend Jackson, which began with professional collaboration in the corridors of Manhattan power and later cooled as their political trajectories diverged, ultimately culminated in this moment of mutual respect, with the nation’s leader paying fitting tribute to a titan of American history.
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