President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Thursday (Aug. 16) to pay respects to legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin, who passed this morning at the age of 76. "The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is dead," Trump wrote. "She was a great woman, with a wonderful gift from God, her voice. She will be missed!"<doc-sep>Photo credit: Getty From Esquire By this point, it's been very clearly established that Donald Trump is not very good at much of anything. He is not a terribly smart man, and, by most accounts, also not a well man. And today, as the world mourns Aretha Franklin-the Queen of Soul and the greatest singer of her generation-we must wonder: Does Donald Trump even know who Aretha Franklin was? His response to the news has been both confused and inappropriate. Let's see what he said on this sad day: The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is dead. She was a great woman, with a wonderful gift from God, her voice. She will be missed! - Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 16, 2018 This is a very strange way to phrase this sentiment. His tweet reads like it was written by someone who only recently learned Aretha Franklin was a singer. Then there's this bit of information from the White House press pool: Donald Trump literally cannot do one thing right. Not one. pic.twitter.com/cSVgn3l7qb - Joe Berkowitz (@JoeBerkowitz) August 16, 2018 So, Donald Trump thought Aretha Franklin was someone who worked for him? It's as if he was told that Aretha Franklin died, and somewhere in his very small brain he thought that name sounded familiar, and must be one of his employees he forgot about. Photo credit: Getty Based on archive photos, Donald Trump and Aretha Franklin had been in the same general vicinity a few times in the '90s. In 1997, Franklin performed at a private event hosted by Trump to celebrate the grand opening of the Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York. None of Trump's responses, however, indicate that he remembers any of this-she was just some singer who worked for him a while back. Story continues But, even when someone did appear to brief him on who she was, the guy still couldn't get it right: Donald Trump offered his “warmest best wishes and sympathies” to the family of Aretha Franklin, per WH pool. Is “best wishes” not an extremely weird thing to say to the family of someone who just died? pic.twitter.com/p9tLCLEZ1q - Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) August 16, 2018 Let's compare Trump's response to that of Barack Obama's: Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade-our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace. pic.twitter.com/bfASqKlLc5 - Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 16, 2018 If someone told Donald Trump Colonel Sanders died, he'd probably make it a national day of mourning. Related Video: 'Queen of Soul' Aretha Franklin Dead at 76 ('You Might Also Like',)<doc-sep>President Donald Trump offered his condolences to the family of Aretha Franklin in an emotionless tribute recalling the times the iconic soul singer worked for him. In a lengthy statement on Thursday afternoon, POTUS said: 'I want to begin today by expressing my condolences to the family of a person I knew well. She worked for me on numerous occasions. She was terrific — Aretha Franklin — on her passing.' Trump added that Franklin 'brought joy to millions of lives and her extraordinary legacy will thrive and inspire many generations to come.' She was given a great gift from God — her voice, and she used it well,' he said about Franklin. 'People loved Aretha. She was a special woman. So just want to pass on my warmest best wishes and sympathies to her family.' President Donald Trump remembered Aretha Franklin in a tweet as 'someone who worked for me' Trump also called Franklin 'terrific' in a statement that is being slammed online. Franklin and Trump are pictured above at Trump International Hotel and Tower Grand Opening on May 19, 1997 'She will be missed' Trump wrote in a tweet on Thursday following news that Aretha Franklin had died First lady Melania Trump has yet to comment on the death. Franklin, known as the 'Queen of Soul', died at the age of 76 at her Detroit home from pancreatic cancer, her family said in a statement on Thursday morning. Hundreds of fans, friends and fellow singers have flooded social media with heartwarming tributes to Franklin. Earlier on Thursday, Trump made another detached comment about her death, writing on Twitter: 'The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is dead. She was a great woman, with a wonderful gift from God, her voice. She will be missed!' Trump's comments are already sparking backlash from Franklin's loving fans. Author Sasha Brown Worsham slammed him as 'vile' and called him a 'pig'. 'Trump said Aretha Franklin -- the QUEEN OF SOUL -- "worked for me." I just can't. He is vile. His supporters are vile. and every person who "doesn't like politics" is vile. Vile. Vile. Vile. Her name should never cross his lips. The pig,' she tweeted. President Donald Trump has joined the long list of people mourning the loss of soul singer Aretha Franklin following her death on Thursday Franklin, known as the 'Queen of Soul', died at the age of 76 at her Detroit home from pancreatic cancer, her family said in a statement on Thursday morning Ivanka Trump also posted a tribute to Franklin on her Instagram Story, which disappears after 24 hours Ivanka Trump also posted a tribute to Franklin on her Instagram Story, which disappears after 24 hours. 'Aretha Franklin was an artistic genius and trailblazer whose gifts to the world transcends time. Long live the Queen of Soul as we pass her music on from generation to generation,' the post read. Former president Barack Obama and wife Michelle, who considered Franklin a close friend, released a powerful joint statement saying they could 'feel our history' in Franklin's voice when she sang. It read: 'America has no royalty. But we do have a chance to earn something more enduring. Born in Memphis and raised in Detroit, Aretha Franklin grew up performing gospel songs in her father's congregation. For more than six decades since, every time she sang, we were graced with a glimpse of the divine. 'Through her compassion and unmatched musicianship, Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade - our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. She helped us feel more connected to each other, more hopeful, more human. And sometimes she helped us just forget about everything else and dance. Former president Barack Obama and Michelle released a joint statement reflecting on the life of Aretha Franklin, a long-time friend Michelle Obama tweeted that she and Barack Obama are 'holding Aretha's family in our hearts right now' Obama welcomes Aretha Franklin as she arrives to sing at the portrait unveiling ceremony for outgoing U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder at The Department of Justice in Washington, DC, February 27, 2015 Franklin is pictured right with former president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle at the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on October 16, 2011 in Washington, DC Franklin also performed 'My Country, 'Tis osf Thee' at Obama's inauguration in 2009. She's pictured performing at the ceremony in January 2009 'Aretha may have passed on to a better place, but the gift of her music remains to inspire us all. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace. Michelle and I send our prayers and warmest sympathies to her family and those moved by her song.' Franklin performed at Barack's inauguration in 2009, where she sang 'My Country, 'Tis of Thee'. She also brought the former president to tears when she performed a rendition of '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman' at the Kennedy Centers Honorees tribute to Carole King in 2015. Hillary Clinton also posted a lengthy, heartfelt message to Franklin, whom she called her 'friend'. 'Mourning the loss today of @ArethaFranklin who shared her spirit and talent with the world. She deserves not only our RESPECT but also our lasting gratitude for opening our eyes, ears and hearts. Rest in eternal peace, my friend,' she tweeted. Former president Bill Clinton posted a touching tribute on Wednesday night, following news that Franklin was gravely ill. 'Like people all around the world, Hillary and I are thinking about Aretha Franklin tonight & listening to her music that has been such an important part of our lives the last 50 years,' he wrote. 'We hope you’ll lift her up by listening and sharing her songs that have meant the most to you.' 'We hope you’ll lift her up by listening and sharing her songs that have meant the most to you,' former president Bill Clinton posted about Franklin shortly before her death. Clinton and Franklin are pictured at an event in November 2017<doc-sep>The world is mourning as Aretha Franklin, the iconic Queen of Soul, has passed away at 76. That includes the President of the United States, Donald Trump, who tweeted about the news of Franklin's death Thursday morning. "The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is dead," he said. "She was a great woman, with a wonderful gift from God, her voice. She will be missed!" Franklin died Thursday morning in Detroit, surrounded by her family, after a bout with advance pancreatic cancer. Later, Trump told a pool of reporters in the White House: "I want to begin today by expressing my condolences to the family of a person I knew well. She worked for me on numerous occasions. She was terrific — Aretha Franklin — on her passing. She's brought joy to millions of lives and her extraordinary legacy will thrive and inspire many generations to come. She was given a great gift from God — her voice, and she used it well. People loved Aretha. She was a special woman. So just want to pass on my warmest best wishes and sympathies to her family." More Aretha Franklin: The part of Aretha's life most don't know about Relive Aretha Franklin's national anthem Aretha Franklin is gone, but her legacy lives on Complete coverage: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, dies<doc-sep>
President Donald Trump paid his respects to iconic American singer Aretha Franklin, who died Thursday at age 76. “She was a great woman, with a wonderful gift from God, her voice,” Trump wrote in a Thursday tweet. The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is dead. She was a great woman, with a wonderful gift from God, her voice. She will be missed! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 16, 2018 The 18-time Grammy winner sold more than 75 million album copies during her career. She is known for top hits including “Respect,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” “Think” and “Chain of Fools.” Franklin sang at the inaugurations of Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Former President George W. Bush awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her impact on America’s cultural landscape in 2005. “Her instantly recognizable voice has captivated listeners ever since she toured with her father’s gospel revue in the 1950s,” Bush said at the time. “She is among our Nation’s greatest musical artists and has captured the hearts of millions of Americans.” Former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also grieved the iconic singer’s death, calling her “one of America’s greatest national treasures” in a joint statement. Mourning the loss today of @ArethaFranklin who shared her spirit and talent with the world. She deserves not only our RESPECT but also our lasting gratitude for opening our eyes, ears and hearts. Rest in eternal peace, my friend. — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 16, 2018 “For more than 50 years, she stirred our souls,” the Clintons said. “She was elegant, graceful, and utterly uncompromising in her artistry.” “I’ll always be grateful for her kindness and support, including her performances at both my inaugural celebrations,” said Bill Clinton. Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace. pic.twitter.com/bfASqKlLc5 — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 16, 2018