Former President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama tweeted touching tributes to soul legend Aretha Franklin, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 76 after battling pancreatic cancer.
"May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace."
The 44th president said Franklin, whose voice resonated behind the Civil Rights movement, "helped define the American experience."
"In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect," Obama wrote.
Obama also posted to Facebook.
"America has no royalty," the former president wrote. "But we do have a chance to earn something more enduring."
"She will forever be our Queen of Soul."
The former FLOTUS said listening to Franklin "made time stand still," and that she and her husband "are holding Aretha’s family in our hearts right now."
President Donald Trump also recognized Franklin's passing on Twitter.
A few hours later following a cabinet meeting, Trump managed to make Frankin's death about him, adding that Franklin had "worked for me on numerous occasions." Yes, really.
Twitter responded to the Obamas' tributes with reverence and grief.
"Please come back."
"This tweet is poetry. Both of your voices are missed."
"You are true class."
"And that fabulous hat!"
Here's how Hillary Clinton honored Franklin.
Replies to Trump, on the other hand, were far less cordial.
"Cold."
"You won't be missed." Ouch.
Oh, Donald.
Awkward.
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