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Trump uses Rush Limbaugh's death to repeat claims of winning the election, says 'Rush said we won and so do I'

Trump paid tribute to his 'friend' Rush Limbaugh, complimenting his golf game and saying that the radio show host also believed he had won the elections

Former President Donald Trump phoned into Fox News, following the death of Rush Limbaugh, to mourn the passing of the conservative radio talk host. Trump had awarded Limbaugh the highest US civilian honor – the Presidential Medal of Freedom – during his 2020 State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress.

Speaking to the channel, Trump remembered Limbaugh as "irreplaceable, unique", and added that "he had an audience that was massive" and that his show was “like a religious experience for a lot of people”. Trump told Fox News that “his questions were fascinating. He had an insight that few people have, even really good ones,” calling him "very street smart". Speaking about the friendship between them, he added, "I always seem to like people who like me," while paying tribute to Limbaugh, who "was right there from the beginning". 

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Limbaugh pioneered the American media phenomenon of conservative talk radio and became a controversial combatant for right-wing views on abortion, to race relations in the US culture wars against the 'liberal agenda'. He announced in February 2020 that he had been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. Rush Limbaugh's wife, Kathryn, announced his death on his radio show to his listeners, calling him a "gentle giant", "genuinely kind and extremely generous and courageous".   

Trump during his call-in spoke briefly about Limbaugh's battle with cancer saying, "His fight was very, very courageous and he was very, very sick...He was fighting until the very end. He was a fighter." Trump also complimented the late host's golf game and said he hit the ball a "long way". 

Trump also used the platform to reiterate his claims that he had won the election. "Rush said we won and so do I by the way," he said before stating he had won "substantially". "We were like a third world country on election night," said Trump, adding that, “Rush felt we won, and he was quite angry about it. Quite angry”.

One user posted this section of his 'tribute' to Twitter, which drew comments about how Trump had even made the passing of his "friend" about himself. "Trump mourns Rush by talking about himself. lmao This guy just doesn't break character. Method," said one user, while another said: "Shorter Trump: "Rush... me me me... vote fraud... more me me me... golf... a lot more me me me...." Really chokes a person up."

This is the first time Trump has spoken publically since he left office on January 20 and returned to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.