{"id":10216,"date":"2026-02-17T18:11:52","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T18:11:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/02\/17\/live-updates-remembering-rev-jesse-jackson-trump-and-others-share-tributes-cnn\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T18:11:52","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T18:11:52","slug":"live-updates-remembering-rev-jesse-jackson-trump-and-others-share-tributes-cnn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/02\/17\/live-updates-remembering-rev-jesse-jackson-trump-and-others-share-tributes-cnn\/","title":{"rendered":"Live updates: Remembering Rev. Jesse Jackson, Trump and others share tributes – CNN"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Live Updates<\/p>\n

Remembering Jesse Jackson: Tributes pour in for the late civil rights leader <\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Jesse Jackson Jr., the son of late civil rights icon Jesse Jackson, said his father spoke twice with President Trump on the phone and encouraged him to bring all Americans together. Jackson Jr. says he was with his father during his final moments and talked about his legacy with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.<\/p>\n

” data-duration=”05:07″ data-source-html=” \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/gettyimages-1159516342.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/gettyimages-1159516342.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n

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Updated 1:04 PM EST, Tue February 17, 2026 <\/div>\n

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Jesse Jackson Jr., the son of late civil rights icon Jesse Jackson, said his father spoke twice with President Trump on the phone and encouraged him to bring all Americans together. Jackson Jr. says he was with his father during his final moments and talked about his legacy with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.<\/p>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-02-17T16:29:08.018Z” data-video-section=”us” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/02\/17\/us\/video\/jesse-jackson-jr-interview-trump-death-digvid” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”jesse-jackson-jr-interview-trump-death-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”jesse-jackson-jr-interview-trump-death-digvid” data-video-tags> \"Jesse<\/picture> <\/div>\n

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Jesse Jackson’s son reveals what his father told Trump <\/p>\n

05:07 <\/span> \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Jesse Jackson’s son reveals what his father told Trump<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

05:07 <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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\u2022 The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering civil rights leader <\/a>whose moral vision and fiery oratory reshaped the Democratic Party and America, has died at age 84. His son, Jesse Jackson Jr., told CNN that his father\u2019s greatest contribution was giving light to people \u201cwho found themselves in dark places.\u201d<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u2022 President Donald Trump praised him as \u201ca force of nature like few others before him,\u201d<\/a> while former President Barack Obama described him as a \u201ctrue giant.\u201d <\/a> <\/p>\n

\u2022 In other tributes, civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton described Jackson as his mentor <\/a>and \u201ca movement unto himself,\u201d while Bernice King posted a photo of Jackson alongside her father, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, with the words, \u201cBoth now ancestors.\u201d<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Jackson<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Barack Obama has just released a statement<\/a> on Jesse Jackson\u2019s death, writing that he is \u201cdeeply saddened to hear about the passing of a true giant.\u201d <\/p>\n

Obamas said that he and his wife Michelle were directly inspired by Jackson, writing: \u201cMichelle got her first glimpse of political organizing at the Jacksons\u2019 kitchen table when she was a teenager.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd in his two historic runs for president, he laid the foundation for my own campaign to the highest office of the land,\u201d Obama added. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Democratic<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Democratic Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, who grew up with Rev. Jesse Jackson, shared a heartfelt statement reminiscing on their childhoods, calling him \u201cone of the most quintessential civil rights leaders.\u201d <\/p>\n

Jackson\u2019s \u201cpassion to bring together all creeds is a testament to his vision of unity, oneness, and a nation under one accord,\u201d he wrote. <\/p>\n

If we all work together we can change history, the South Carolina lawmaker said, noting the initiatives Jackson worked on including Operation Breadbasket, an organization to improve the economic condition of Black communities across the nation, as well as anti-apartheid activism, voter registration, and corporate diversity. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/screenshot-2026-02-17-at-11-17-52-am.png?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/screenshot-2026-02-17-at-11-17-52-am.png?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n
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By Sara Smart<\/span>, CNN <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Updated 1:04 PM EST, Tue February 17, 2026 <\/div>\n

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\"Screenshot<\/picture> <\/div>\n
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Jesse Jackson Jr. speaks with CNN about late father <\/p>\n

07:49 <\/span> \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Jesse Jackson Jr. speaks with CNN about late father<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

07:49 <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. described his father today as a \u201cunique in American history.\u201d <\/p>\n

The former Illinois lawmaker was referring to President Donald Trump\u2019s statement about the Rev. Jesse Jackson<\/a>, who died today at age 84. <\/p>\n

Jackson Jr. said his father\u2019s greatest contribution in his activism was giving light to people \u201cwho found themselves in dark places\u201d by spending tangible time with those in the margins of society. Following the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Jackson \u201cdid the best he could to keep that flame alive,\u201d his son added. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe saw himself as a public servant. He believed in servant leadership. He saw himself as a seminarian. He saw politics as a way to carry out the ministry of feeding the hungry, of clothing the naked, of providing health care \u2026 of providing food,\u201d Jackson Jr. said. <\/p>\n

Jackson was troubled by rising polarization, his son emphasized. One of Jackson\u2019s final communications with Trump was about \u201cspirit, energy\u201d and the \u201cchallenge before the President of the United States to bring all Americans together,\u201d Jackson Jr. said, noting that he believed his father\u2019s relationship with Trump had the potential to strike a different tone. <\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, he was never the recipient of a return phone call from the President of the United States. But it\u2019s never too late. It\u2019s never too late to do right. My father sincerely believes that,\u201d Jackson Jr. added. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Omega Psi Phi Fraternity honored Jackson, a 1960 spring initiate of the Pi Psi Chapter, through a video tribute posted to Facebook<\/a> and X. The posts highlighted Jackson\u2019s lifelong commitment to the organization. <\/p>\n

Jackson \u201cstands as a towering figure in the global struggle for justice and human dignity,\u201d the post said. <\/p>\n

The fraternity also praised his work for the marginalized, claiming his impact as \u201cundeniable.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWith two groundbreaking presidential campaigns, more than forty honorary doctorates, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, his impact is undeniable. Yet his greatest legacy lives in the hope he has carried for the marginalized, the oppressed, and the unheard.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Former<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Bill and Hillary Clinton are the latest US politicians to pay tribute to Rev. Jesse Jackson, remembering him as someone who \u201cchampioned human dignity and helped create opportunities for countless people to live better lives.\u201d <\/p>\n

The former president and secretary of state said they were friends with Jackson for almost 50 years after meeting him in 1977 on the 20th anniversary of Little Rock Central High\u2019s integration of nine black students into the then-all-white school. <\/p>\n

Bill Clinton awarded Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation\u2019s highest civilian honor, in 2000. <\/p>\n

\u201cHillary and I loved him very much. Our hearts and prayers go out to Jackie, their children and grandchildren, and all the people across America and around the world who were inspired by his service to humanity.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Among the tributes pouring in for Rev. Jesse Jackson are messages from several world leaders, who remembered the civil rights leader as a global moral authority. <\/p>\n

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on social media<\/a> that Jackson\u2019s campaigning against apartheid \u201cwas a towering contribution to the global anti-apartheid cause,\u201d adding: \u201cwe are deeply indebted to the energy, principled clarity and personal risk with which he supported our struggle and campaigned for freedom and equality in other parts of the world.\u201d <\/p>\n

Kenya\u2019s President William Ruto called Jackson a \u201csteadfast voice for justice and human dignity\u201d in a post on X.<\/a> <\/p>\n

French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, called Jackson\u2019s death an \u201cimmense loss,\u201d writing on social media<\/a> that he was \u201ca tireless promoter of civil rights\u201d who \u201cnever stopped defending peace, justice and brotherhood.\u201d <\/p>\n

Other notable international figures also paid tribute to Jackson, including British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who called him<\/a> a \u201cpillar of the civil rights movement.\u201d <\/p>\n

Nigerian civil rights activist Shehu Sani wrote<\/a> that Jackson\u2019s death marked the \u201cend of an era,\u201d calling him \u201ca trailblazer for civil rights and social justice.\u201d <\/p>\n

Jackson\u2019s \u201cunwavering dedication to racial equality, justice, freedom and compassion has made a lasting impact on the world,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

CNN\u2019s Lauren Chadwick contributed to this reporting.<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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In 1984, Jesse Jackson spoke at Democratic National Convention, arguing that the party should expand it\u2019s coalition to represent the \u201cmany patches\u201d of American society. <\/p>\n

In 1984, Jesse Jackson spoke at Democratic National Convention, arguing that the party should expand it’s coalition to represent the “many patches” of American society. Jackson died at 84 after a long fight with a neurological disorder.<\/p>\n

” data-duration=”01:06″ data-source-html=” \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/americanquilt-thumb.png?c=9×16” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/americanquilt-thumb.png?c=9×16″ } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n

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By Victoria Fleischer<\/span>, CNN <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Updated 1:04 PM EST, Tue February 17, 2026 <\/div>\n

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In 1984, Jesse Jackson spoke at Democratic National Convention, arguing that the party should expand it’s coalition to represent the “many patches” of American society. Jackson died at 84 after a long fight with a neurological disorder.<\/p>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-02-17T16:45:39.610Z” data-video-section=”us” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/02\/17\/us\/video\/jesse-jackson-american-quilt-1984-vrtc” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”jesse-jackson-american-quilt-1984-vrtc” data-first-publish-slug=”jesse-jackson-american-quilt-1984-vrtc” data-video-tags=”vertical”> \"AmericanQuilt<\/picture> <\/div>\n

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Jesse Jackson: ‘America is more like a quilt’ <\/p>\n

In 1984, Jesse Jackson spoke at Democratic National Convention, arguing that the party should expand it’s coalition to represent the “many patches” of American society. Jackson died at 84 after a long fight with a neurological disorder.<\/p>\n

01:06 <\/span> \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Jesse Jackson: ‘America is more like a quilt’<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

01:06 <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Jesse<\/picture> <\/div>\n

In the hours since the announcement of Rev. Jesse Jackson\u2019s passing, heartfelt messages of condolences and friendship from prominent US political and civil right figures have been pouring in. <\/p>\n

Catch up on what they had to say about the towering civil rights leader here: <\/p>\n

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