Jesse Jackson’s son slams Obama and Biden for using father’s funeral to seemingly take shots at Trump
Jesse Jackson’s funeral was an occasion where politicians and former presidents bid farewell to a pivotal civil rights activist – but his son has since come out to hit out at Barack Obama and Joe Biden as he claims they used the service for their own agenda.
Obama, Hillary and Bill Clinton, Kamala Harris and Biden all congregated on Friday (March 6) to pay their respects to Jackson, who died at age 84 last month.
The activist was well-known in US politics after running for president on two separate occasions and carrying on with the Black Civil Rights Movement after Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination in 1968.
Jackson’s memorial was filled with memories from those who knew him, but when it got to the two former presidents, things took an odd turn – leading Jesse Jackson Jr to slam them both.
Jesse Jackson Jr hit out at Barack Obama and Joe Biden after their speeches at his father’s funeral (Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP via Getty Images)
Per the New York Post, Jackson Jr. said at a private memorial service at Rainbow Push Coalition headquarters in Chicago on Saturday: “Yesterday, I listened for several hours to three United States presidents who do not know Jesse Jackson.”
He added: “He maintained a tense relationship with the political order, not because the presidents were white or black, but the demands of our message, the demands of speaking for the least of these – those who are disinherited, the damned, the dispossessed, the disrespected – demanded not Democratic or Republican solutions, but demanded a consistent, prophetic voice that at no point in time ever sold us out as people.
“And it speaks volumes about who the Rev. Jesse Jackson was.”
Jackson Jr.’s comments come after the previous day had three major presidential figures talk about his father, but also about the current political landscape.
Obama said in his address that ‘it’s hard to hope’ when ‘every day you wake up to things you just didn’t think were possible’.
Jesse Jackson Jr addressed their speeches one day later during a private ceremony (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP via Getty Images)
The former POTUS added: “Each day we’re told … to fear each other, to turn on each other and that some Americans count more than others, and that some don’t even count at all.”
He continued: “Everywhere we see greed and bigotry being celebrated, and bullying and mockery masquerading as strength. We see science and expertise denigrated, while ignorance and dishonesty and cruelty and corruption are reaping untold rewards.”
Former presidential candidate Harris also seemed to bring up President Trump, seeming to reference her prediction to how his second term would play out.
“I’m not into saying ‘I told you so,’ but we did see it coming,” Harris said. “But what I did not predict is that we would not have Jesse Jackson with us to get through this.”
Biden was among a number of speakers at the memorial service (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
As for Biden, he oddly seemed to swipe at the audience, telling them: “I’m hell of lot smarter than most of you. Well, all kidding aside, it makes you feel really small, makes you feel really small.”
Biden added, appearing to reference the current administration: “I don’t think things would have been the same had Jesse not been around, because Jesse decided that his life was ensuring that we never fully walk away from it either.
“Because there’s bad times like now. We’re in a tough spot, folks, we’ve got an administration that doesn’t share any of the values that we have. I don’t think I’m exaggerating a little bit.”
UNILAD reached out to the representatives of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Barack Obama for comment.
Featured Image Credit: Earl Gibson III/Deadline via Getty Images
Topics: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Politics, US News
Britt Jones
Barack Obama seemingly made a dig at Donald Trump during his eulogy at Jesse Jackson’s funeral on Friday (March 6).
Jackson, a protege of Martin Luther King Jr and a two-time US presidential candidate, died last month aged 84.
The activist led the civil rights movement for decades after Luther King’s assassination, and the legacy he left was evident through the tributes that have poured in.
Jackson’s funeral took place on Friday, with the likes of Obama, Joe Biden, and the Clintons in attendance.
Obama, in particular, seemed to take aim at the current administration as he took swipes at ‘those in high office’ while the crowd at the House of Hope church began shouting ‘four more years’ at the former president.
“No, see, I believe in the Constitution,” Obama immediately responded to all the cheers.
Obama was speaking at Jesse Jackson’s (pictured) funeral (Kris Connor/Getty Images)
In a lengthy eulogy, the 44th POTUS went on to discuss Jackson’s legal while also pointing to the current situation under Trump.
“Every day you wake up to things you just didn’t think were possible,” he said. “Each day, we’re told by those in high office to fear each other and to turn on each other, and that some Americans count more than others, and that some don’t even count at all.”
The former president continued: “Everywhere we see greed and bigotry being celebrated, and bullying and mockery masquerading as strength. We see science and expertise denigrated, while ignorance and dishonesty and cruelty and corruption are reaping untold rewards.”
In response to Obama’s comments, White House spokesperson Steven Cheung said: “Barack Hussein Obama is a classless moron who clearly suffers from a debilitating and severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted his brain.
“He is a total disgrace for all the hurt he has caused this country and history will not judge him well.”
Trump has hinted on numerous occasions that he may run for a third term in office despite the 22nd Amendment blocking any individual for serving more than eight years in the White House.
Just last month, during his State of the Union address, the POTUS made reference to a ‘third term in office’.
Trump has previously suggested he could run for a third term (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
“So in my first year of the second term – should be my third term – but strange things happen,” Trump said, seemingly referencing his loss to Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
Despite that, in August last year, Trump seemingly shut down any suggestion he could run again after he was asked by CNBC if he would contest another presidential election.
“No, probably not, probably not. I’d like to … I have the best poll numbers I’ve ever had,” he said.
The president added: “You know why. Because people love the tariffs, and they love the trade deals, and they love that countries – they love that foreign countries aren’t ripping us off. For years, they ripped us. A friend, and foe and a friend. And the friends were worse.”