Trump slammed for not paying tribute to Herman Cain after he dies of Covid-19 and tweeting about pizza instead
President Donald Trump was slammed by social media users on Thursday, July 30, for not paying tribute to his supporter and former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain. The news of the 74-year-old's demise was announced on Thursday by a conservative media company Newsmax, which stated that the politician died due to the novel coronavirus. His death comes weeks after he attended a Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, without a mask on June 20.
Trump, however, hours later wrote a message but did not mention that Cain died from Covid-19. "My friend Herman Cain, a Powerful Voice of Freedom and all that is good, passed away this morning. Herman had an incredible career and was adored by everyone that ever met him, especially me. He was a very special man, an American Patriot, and great friend. I just got off the phone with his amazing wife Gloria, daughter, Melanie, and son Vincent to express my deepest condolences to the entire family. @FLOTUS Melania and I loved Herman Cain, a great man. Herman, Rest In Peace!"
But before Trump's late tribute to the Republican, many social media users called on him to write a tribute to one of his most ardent supporters.
"Herman Cain died because he attended a rally for @realDonaldTrump Where is Trump’s tribute to Cain? More important[ly], who will die next for Trump? We already know: tens of thousands," one Twitter user wrote.
While another expressed a similar sentiment, saying: "Herman Cain died after [going] to one of your rallies. You can at least pay tribute to him instead of always thinking about your self-interests."
Many noted that the president, instead of paying tribute to one of his prominent supporters, wrote a tweet promoting a pizza place and complained about mail-in ballots. Trump tweeted: "Support Patio Pizza and its wonderful owner, Guy Caligiuri, in St. James, Long Island (N.Y.). Great Pizza!!! @Varneyco."
One user took a swipe at the president, writing: "I'm sure Herman Cain would have loved Donald Trump's heartfelt tribute to eat at Patio Pizza for great pizza." While another said: "I haven’t read any tributes from Trump regarding his one African-American friend, Herman Cain. Herman died from contracting coronavirus at Trump’s mask-less rally. Trump insists on a rally, Herman is dead. Joins the 150,000 dead. Trump tweets about mail-in ballots."
There were many people who noted that Vice President Mike Pence and the White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany had also written tributes for Cain, but there was no message that came from the president even hours after the news of the Republican's passing came.
Pence wrote: "Karen and I were saddened to hear of the passing of our friend Herman Cain and we send our deepest sympathies to his family and friends. Herman was a success in business, an indispensable voice for the Conservative movement and he will be deeply missed."
Cain reportedly fell ill nearly ten days after attending a Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He tested positive for coronavirus two days later and was subsequently hospitalized on July 1. Cain had been critically ill for several weeks and had been admitted to an Atlanta-area hospital.