Echoing controversial comment about John Dingell, Trump implies LBJ may be in hell

William Cummings | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump rallies supporters as Dems debate in Iowa President Donald Trump defended his decision to kill a top Iranian general and slammed Democrats as weak on national security. The president held a rally in Milwaukee as Democratic presidential candidates debated in Iowa. (Jan. 15)

Echoing a controversial comment he made about the late Rep. John Dingell, President Donald Trump implied another deceased Democrat might be looking up from hell: this time former President Lyndon Johnson.

Trump made the remark at a rally in Milwaukee on Tuesday while discussing his upcoming impeachment trial.

Trump is accused of using military aid to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his own political benefit. Trump claimed a readout from a phone call with Zelensky on July 25 shows he did nothing wrong, though Democrats point out the rough transcript shows he asked Zelensky for a "favor" after the Ukrainian leader said he hoped to acquire more Javelin missiles from the United States.

"This is based on a perfect phone call," Trump said of the impeachment, which he called a "hoax."

"Did anybody read the transcript? It's a perfect call. In fact, if you go back and look at Lyndon Johnson – all of them – Lyndon Johnson was sort of a tough guy. Can you imagine his phone calls?" Trump asked the crowd of supporters. "He's probably looking down – or looking up – and he's probably saying, 'These people have gone crazy. That's the nicest call I've ever tracked.' "

Trump made a similar quip last month about Dingell, who died in February, at a rally in Dingell's home state of Michigan. His widow, Rep. Debbie Dingell, said Trump's comment made the first holiday without her husband more difficult, and she called for more civility in politics.

When Trump spoke to an evangelical group in June, he made a possible reference to the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who was among the Republicans who opposed Trump's proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

"Fortunately, they're gone now. They've gone on to greener pastures. Or perhaps far less green, but they're gone," Trump said. "Very happy they're gone." Trump might have been referring to retired senators Jeff Flake or Bob Corker, but McCain was the only one of the three who voted against the repeal.

Some on social media pointed out to Trump that Johnson recorded his White House phone calls and that they are public record.

"We can listen to recordings of many of LBJ's calls and, hard as many of them can be to listen to now for many reasons, he didn't ask foreign governments to intervene in our elections in exchange for congressionally authorized military aid," tweeted Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill.

We can listen to recordings of many of LBJ's calls and, hard as many of them can be to listen to now for many reasons, he didn't ask foreign governments to intervene in our elections in exchange for congressionally authorized military aid. https://t.co/6Dnqepk462 https://t.co/uAJmUZRQ1A — Raja Krishnamoorthi (@CongressmanRaja) January 15, 2020

"FACT: You don’t have to imagine LBJ’s phone calls. He installed the Oval Office taping system which was later expanded and improved under Nixon. Many of his phone calls were recorded," tweeted Independent political reporter Andrew Feinberg.

Conservative lawyer and Trump critic George Conway, who is married to White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, suggested Trump also might be heading for "less pastures."

"Trump is hoping to meet LBJ I guess," Conway wrote.