Obama, Trump: John Glenn a True American Hero

By Todd Beamon / NEWSMAX

 

President Barack Obama and his successor, Donald Trump, praised John Glenn — who died at age 95 — as a space pioneer and true American hero.

President-elect Trump said on Twitter:

Donald J. Trump Verified account ‏@realDonaldTrump

Today we lost a great pioneer of air and space in John Glenn. He was a hero and inspired generations of future explorers. He will be missed.

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Trump told reporters after meeting with the victims of last week's terror attack at Ohio State University that Glenn was "a great American hero, a truly great American hero.

"I met him on two separate occasions. Liked him. Always liked him.

"But he was, indeed, an American hero."

Obama said that "when John Glenn blasted off from Cape Canaveral atop an Atlas rocket in 1962, he lifted the hopes of a nation.

"When his Friendship 7 spacecraft splashed down a few hours later, the first American to orbit the Earth reminded us that with courage and a spirit of discovery there's no limit to the heights we can reach together," the president said.

With Glenn's death, "our nation has lost an icon and Michelle and I have lost a friend," Obama continued. He awarded Glenn the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.

"John spent his life breaking barriers, from defending our freedom as a decorated Marine Corps fighter pilot in World War II and Korea, to setting a transcontinental speed record, to becoming, at age 77, the oldest human to touch the stars.

"John always had the right stuff," the president added, "inspiring generations of scientists, engineers and astronauts who will take us to Mars and beyond — not just to visit, but to stay.

He called Glenn "a devoted public servant who represented his fellow Buckeyes in the U.S. Senate for a quarter-century and who fought to keep America a leader in science and technology.

"The last of America's first astronauts has left us, but propelled by their example we know that our future here on Earth compels us to keep reaching for the heavens," Obama said.

"On behalf of a grateful nation, Godspeed, John Glenn."