Biden leads tributes to Colin Powell: ‘He could drive his Corvette Stingray like nobody’s business’
US President Joe Biden has paid tribute to former US secretary of state Colin Powell following his death, saying he “could drive his Corvette Stingray like nobody’s business”.
The 84-year-old died following complications from COVID-19, his family said in a statement today.
Figures from across the political spectrum have paid their tributes to the first black US secretary of state and top military officer following the news.
US President Joe Biden said he and his wife Jill were “deeply saddened” by the passing of their “dear friend and a patriot of unmatched honour and dignity”.
Former US president Barack Obama talks with reporters after a meeting with Colin Powell and Joe Biden in 2010
“Colin embodied the highest ideals of both warrior and diplomat. He was committed to our nation’s strength and security above all,” Mr Biden said.
“Having fought in wars, he understood better than anyone that military might alone was not enough to maintain our peace and prosperity.”
He added that Mr Powell had repeatedly “broken racial barriers” and was “committed to investing in the next generation of leadership”, but above all, “Colin was my friend. Easy to share a laugh with. A trusted confidant in good and hard times.”
The US leader continued: “He could drive his Corvette Stingray like nobody’s business – something I learned firsthand on the race track when I was vice president.
Colin Powell and wife Alma with former President Bill Clinton in 2017
“And I am forever grateful for his support of my candidacy for president and for our shared battle for the soul of the nation. I will miss being able to call on his wisdom in the future.”
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said: “Powell’s career in the US military is legendary… By the
time he retired from the military he was arguably the most respected and celebrated American in uniform.”
John Major, who was the UK prime minister from 1990 to 1997, said he was “proud” to call Mr Powell a friend.
“Colin Powell was one of the finest men I ever met. And, perhaps, one of the finest Americans never to be president,” he said.
Former UK prime minister John Major (R) said he was ‘proud’ to call Colin Powell a friend
“Both in the military and in government he led with calm authority, and was an inspiration to all those who served alongside him.
“During the first Gulf War – as chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff – we could not have wished for a stronger ally, nor one who commanded such affection and respect from our own armed forces. Throughout his long and exceptional career, Colin served with honour and distinction. He was a true public servant, who I was proud to call a friend.”
Mr Powell served under George H W Bush through the Iraq War and had also overseen the US invasion of Panama in 1989.
Then US president George W Bush with Colin Powell in 2006, after he had finished his term as secretary of state
He was then appointed secretary of state under Mr Bush’s son, George W Bush, who embarked on the Iraq War in 2003.
In a statement, George W Bush said he and his wife Laura are “deeply saddened” by Mr Powell’s death.
“He was a great public servant, starting with his time as a soldier during Vietnam. Many presidents relied on General Powell’s counsel and experience.
“He was national security adviser under President Reagan, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under my father and President Clinton, and secretary of state during my administration.”
Mr Bush added: “He was such a favourite of presidents that he earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom – twice. He was highly respected at home and abroad. And most important, Colin was a family man and a friend. Laura and I send Alma and their children our sincere condolences as they remember the life of a great man.”
Tony Blair, who was UK prime minister during the Iraq War, described Mr Powell as a “towering figure in American military and political leadership over many years”.
“He was wonderful to work with, he inspired loyalty and respect and was one of those leaders who always treated those under them with kindness and concern,” Mr Blair said.
Former PM Tony Blair greeting Colin Powell outside 10 Downing Street
“His life stands as a testament not only to dedicated public service but also a strong belief in willingness to work across partisan division in the interests of his country. I am so sorry to hear the news of his death.”
Prominent figures in the African-American community also paid tribute to him.
Lloyd Austin, who is the first African American to become US defence secretary, said: “The world lost one of the greatest leaders that we have ever witnessed.
“Alma lost a great husband, and the family lost a tremendous father and I lost a tremendous personal friend and mentor. He has been my mentor for a number of years. He always made time for me and I could always go to him with tough issues. He always had great counsel.
“First African American chairman of the joint chiefs, first African American secretary of state – a man who was respected around the globe… quite frankly, it is not possible to replace a Colin Powell. We will miss him.”
Colin Powell speaking in Providence, Rhode Island, in 2008
Rev Al Sharpton, the civil rights activist, said on Twitter: “My condolences to the family of Colin Powell. Though we disagreed on many issues, I always respected him and was proud of his achievements. When he and I ran into each other and conversed, I always left feeling he was a sincere and committed man to what he believed in. RIP”.
Elon Musk’s social media post claiming Donald Trump is in files relating to the disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has been removed.
The tech billionaire made the allegation on X as he traded blows with the US president in a dramatic public row.
In the post, which now appears to have been deleted, Musk said: “@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.
“Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”
He gave no evidence for the claim, which was dismissed by the White House – with the post disappearing from his social media platform by Sunday.
Users clicking on the message – first posted on Thursday – were instead greeted with: “Hmm…this page doesn’t exist. Try searching for something else.”
Epstein killed himself in his jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors.
File pic: Reuters
Musk and Mr Trump’s relationship broke down publicly on Thursday, just days after the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive left his role as a special government employee.
In a fiery exchange, Musk posted a series of messages on X criticising the president’s signature tax and spending bill as a “big ugly spending bill”.
President Trump posted on Truth Social, saying Musk had been “wearing thin” and claimed he “asked him to leave” his government position – something Musk denied.
Read more:
Explosive row more terrifying than titillating
The big, beautiful bust-up everyone knew was coming
Musk then hit back with his claim about the US president appearing in the Epstein files.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the comment in a statement.
“This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted,” she said.
“The president is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again.”
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The spat hit Tesla shares, which closed down 14.3% on Thursday, losing about $150bn (£111bn) in value.
In an interview with ABC News, Mr Trump was asked about reports a phone call was scheduled between him and Musk on Friday.
He reportedly said: “You mean the man who has lost his mind?”
Donald Trump has said Elon Musk has “lost his mind”, according to US media, as the White House reveals the president is not interested in speaking to him.
In a phone interview with ABC News, the US president was asked about reports that a phone call was scheduled on Friday between Musk and himself.
“You mean the man who has lost his mind?” he is said to have responded.
A White House official has said Mr Trump is not interested in talking to his former ally amid a bitter feud between the two, adding that no phone call is planned for the day.
It comes as a source familiar with the situation has told Sky News the president is considering selling his Tesla, in a further sign that no resolution to the explosive bust-up is in sight.
Mr Trump purchased a Tesla earlier this year, describing the company as Elon’s “baby”.
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‘Wheels come off’ Musk-Trump relationship
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The pair’s relationship broke down publicly on Thursday, just days after Tesla and SpaceX CEO Musk left his role as a special government employee.
In a fiery exchange, Musk posted a series of messages on X criticising the president’s signature tax bill as a “big ugly spending bill”.
President Trump posted on Truth Social that Musk had been “wearing thin” and claimed he “asked him to leave” his government position, something Musk denied.
Elon Musk then hit back, alleging the president “is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.”
He gave no evidence for the claim, and it was dismissed by the White House.
In a statement, it called the bust-up an “unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted.”
Read more:
Musk says Trump appears in Epstein files as row explodes
The extraordinary spat minute-by-minute
The big, beautiful bust-up everyone knew was coming
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Trump hits out at Musk
The bill at the centre of the spat was passed by the House Republicans in May and has been described by the president as a “big, beautiful bill”.
The president said to reporters in the White House on Thursday that Musk “knew the inner workings of the bill better than anybody sitting here”.
“He had no problem with it. All of a sudden, he had a problem and he only developed the problem when he found out we’re going to have to cut the EV mandate.”
Musk then denied this, saying: “False, this bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!”
The spat hit Tesla shares, which closed down 14.3% on Thursday, losing about $150bn (£111bn) in value.
Musk also said SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft “immediately” after Mr Trump threatened to cancel government contracts with Musk’s businesses.
Hours after issuing his threat, however, Musk heeded advice from X users telling him to “cool down” and posted: “Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon”.
The row between two of the most powerful men in America comes a week after Musk left his position in the government, where he spearheaded a controversial cost-cutting department, DOGE – the Department of Government Efficiency.
They were once the best of friends, but last night that came to an end – and it all unfolded online as people across the world looked on… and retweeted.
Tension between Elon Musk and Donald Trump had been building for several days after the SpaceX billionaire criticised the US president’s signature tax bill.
While initially it remained cordial, the president suggested his former backer and adviser missed being in government and suffered from “Trump derangement syndrome”, leading to a sudden and dramatic deterioration in relations between the pair.
They have two of the largest platforms in the world, and last night, they turned them on each other. While much of Europe slept through it, here is every insult and barb as it happened… so far.
6.39pm: ‘Big ugly spending bill’
Musk tells Trump his “big ugly spending bill” will make the economic situation worse.
Five minutes later he retweets a video in which he says the bill will increase the US’s deficit to $2.5 trillion (£1.85 trn).
AT 6.48pm he shares a post about the bill’s popularity, simply saying: “Kill bill”.
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‘Wheels come off’ Musk-Trump relationship
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6.49pm: Trump’s ‘body double’
Earlier in the evening, Musk reshares a series of posts (dating back to 2012) from Trump’s X account, including ones saying deficits should not be allowed.
He then reshares a post of someone praising him, adding: “Where is the man who wrote these words? Was he replaced by a body double!?”
He then retweets a meme, making light of Trump’s plan, which links to a poll he had run the previous day.
7.23pm: Back to the bill
Musk starts tweeting about the “big ugly spending bill” again, saying members of Congress didn’t even have time to read it before it was passed.
He continues to tweet about this for most of the night, including accusing the government of “spending America into bankruptcy”.
7.30pm: Who is right?
Musk retweets a poll that shows 76% of 1.5 million voters think he is right in his spat with the president.
7.37pm: Elon was ‘wearing thin’
Trump shares a post on his Truth Social site that accuses Musk of going “crazy” after the president took away his EV mandate.
Trump says he asked Musk to leave his position within the White House. Pic: TruthSocial
Musk responds by sharing a number of former interviews, including a video from 2021 where he says the industry does not need EV tax credits.
Trump then shares a post in which he writes the “easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts”.
8.10pm: The Epstein ‘bomb’
Arguably the largest moment in their fight – Musk accuses Trump of being in the Epstein files.
He gives no evidence for the claim. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismisses the comment.
9.06pm: Musk ‘turning against me’
Trump says he doesn’t mind Musk turning against him, but adds that “he should have done so months ago”.
He then goes on to voice continued support for his bill, calling it “one of the greatest bills ever presented to Congress”.
Read more:
The big beautiful bust up that everyone knew was coming
In a post shared on his Truth Social account, the US president says he doesn’t mind Musk ‘turning against’ him. Pic: TruthSocial
9.09pm: Decommissioning Dragon
Following Trump’s statement about terminating his contracts, Musk tweets: “In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately.”
Dragon is the only US spacecraft available to deliver crew to and from the International Space Station.
Two minutes later he retweets a post calling on Trump to be impeached, adding simply: “Yes.”
Musk and Trump in happier times, on the campaign trail in 2024. Pic: AP
9.29pm: Trump’s tariffs
Musk hits out at Trump’s tariffs, resharing a tweet from someone who called them “stupid”.
“The Trump tariffs will cause a recession in the second half of this year,” he adds.
For the rest of the evening, Musk reshares posts from other users, often adding a laughing face emoji, or the occasional comment, including the words: “If America goes broke, nothing else matters.”
2.20am: Musk says he won’t decommission spacecraft
Just after 2am, an account with a few hundred followers tweets Musk: “This is a shame this back and forth. You are both better than this. Cool off and take a step back for a couple days.”
In response, Musk agrees he won’t decommission the Dragon spacecraft.
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