Donald Trump claims he has 'done more for black Americans' than John Lewis as he recalls inauguration snub

Donald Trump has claimed he has "done more" to improve the lives of black people in the US than the late civil rights leader John Lewis.

In an interview with US news site Axios, Mr Trump dismissed the legacy of the late Congressman and accused him of having made a "big mistake" by not coming to the American president's inauguration ceremony.

Mr Lewis - who died aged 80 last month after fighting racism all his life - said at the time that he did not see the billionaire businessman as as a "legitimate president". Later, during debates over immigration, he labelled Mr Trump a racist.

Mr Trump made headlines around the world for shunning an invitation to Mr Lewis' funeral. Former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama all attended and spoke at the memorial.

Mr Trump shunned an invitation to Mr Lewis' funeral.
Getty Images

During the interview with Axios, reporter Jonathan Swan quizzed the president about his decision not to attend and asked if he believed Mr Lewis had led an "impressive" life.

Mr Trump replied: "I really don't know. I don't know John Lewis. He chose not to come to my inauguration."

He then added: "I never met John Lewis, actually, I don't believe."

Pushed to comment further, Mr Trump continued: "He didn't come to my inauguration. He didn't come to my State of the Union speeches. And that's OK. That's his right.

"And, again, nobody has done more for Black Americans than I have."

Mr Trump then appeared to chance his stance on Mr Lewis' decision, adding: "He should have come. I think he made a big mistake."

He also refused to acknowledge Mr Lewis' legacy, saying: "I can't say one way or the other. I find a lot of people impressive. I find many people not impressive."

However, the president told the site that he would make "no objection to" renaming the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma after the activist and politician.

The interview has also provoked controversy for comments Mr Trump made about the US response to coronavirus.

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