WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump remembered the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) Tuesday at a House Republican retreat at the Kennedy Center after news of the California congressman's death broke.
Trump noted that LaMalfa past on Monday at the top of his speech on Tuesday.
“I want to express our great sadness at the loss of a great member, a great, great, great member of Congress, Doug LaMalfa, who passed away yesterday, as you probably heard,” the president said.
“He was a leader of the Western Caucus, a great advocate for water in California. He was great on water issues… 'Release the water!'” he screamed, “he added. “And a true advocate for America's children; he was an advocate for everyone, and our hearts go out to his wife Jill and his entire family.”
Trump emphasized that he never had to call LaMalfa late at night or early in the morning while helping House Republican leadership push for the vote, saying “he was not a three o'clock in the morning man” unlike some members he would have to call at the request of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Los Angeles) before the vote.
“I was very saddened by his passing and I thought about not even giving a speech in his honor, but then I decided that I had to give it in his honor. I will do it in his honor because that's what he would have wanted,” the president continued to applause.
“He would say, 'Make that speech… Are you kidding me? Make a speech.” Big guy, but he was a fantastic person. Damn, that was fast… I don't know what happened yet, but damn, it's not easy. He was just with us,” Trump added.
He emphasized that LaMalfa “was our friend, all of us, every one of us.”
Trump also sent well wishes to Rep. Jim Baird (R-Ind.) and his wife, who hospitalized after a car accident.
“I also want to send our best wishes to Congressman Jim Baird and his wife who are recovering from a car accident. They will be fine, but they were in a pretty serious accident and we are praying that they get out of that hospital as soon as possible,” he said.
“He'll be fine, she'll be fine, but it was an accident,” he added.
