This archive report was first published on 4 August 2020.
US President Donald Trump's comments on civil rights activist John Lewis have sparked controversy, with Trump saying he doesn't know how history will remember Lewis, citing their differing views on his inauguration.
John Lewis, a longtime Democratic congressman, died on July 17 and received rare honors in Washington, with key figures from both major parties praising his life-long fight for equality.
During an interview with Axios, Trump was asked how he thought history would remember Lewis, to which he replied, 'I don't know, I really don't know.'
Trump also stated that Lewis 'chose not to come to my inauguration,' which Lewis had indeed boycotted, citing Russian interference in the 2016 election and warning that US democracy was under threat.
When asked if he found Lewis' story impressive, Trump said, 'He was a person that devoted a lot of energy and a lot of heart to civil rights, but there were many others also.'
Trump's comments come at a time when the nation is grappling with issues of racial equality and justice, following the death of George Floyd and the subsequent nationwide protests.
