On Friday, Reverend C.T. Vivian passed away. He was a leader in the Civil Rights movement, and he worked alongside other high-profile figures like Martin Luther King, Jr. — and he was also someone who none other than former President Barack Obama looked up to. On Twitter this Friday, Obama shared a message honoring Vivian, writing, in part, that he “got to know [Vivian] as a source of wisdom, advice, and strength on my first presidential campaign.”
In the message, Obama added:
‘His friendship, encouraging words, and ever-present smile were a great source of inspiration and comfort, and personally, I will miss him greatly. I’m only here thanks to C.T. Vivian and all the heroes of the Civil Rights Generation. Because of them, the idea of a just, fair, inclusive, and generous America came closer into focus. The trail they blazed gave today’s generation of activists a roadmap to tag in and finish the journey. And I have to imagine that seeing the largest protest movement in history unfold over his final months gave the Reverend a final dose of hope before his long and well-deserved rest.’
Check out Obama’s message in full in the Twitter post below:
Some thoughts on the Reverend C.T. Vivian, a pioneer who pulled America closer to our founding ideals and a friend who I will miss greatly. pic.twitter.com/kDsGhU2BF4
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 17, 2020
Contrast Obama’s message with Trump’s priorities on Friday. Early Friday, Trump took to Twitter to post a lie-filled rant about Democrats’ supposed priorities. He claimed that he will “never let the Radical Left take away your Rights, your Guns, or your Police” — but it’s not as though presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is actually proposing any of those things. Rather, Trump is just making up a conflict and then trying to hype up his base in that reality-disconnected fight.
THANK YOU to the 5 million members of the @NRA for once again entrusting me with your FULL & COMPLETE ENDORSEMENT! As long as I am President, I will ALWAYS protect our Great Second Amendment, and never let the Radical Left take away your Rights, your Guns, or your Police! @NRAPVF https://t.co/8ZhChqxgBI
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 17, 2020
Voters, it’s worth noting, aren’t all-in for the president’s self-obsessed, reality-disconnected fight against his both real and imaginary opponents. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden — Obama’s former second-in-command — is leading Trump in crucial polls from around the country on both the national level and in individual swing states, including many that Trump won in 2016.
Check out Twitter’s response to Obama below:
