Conservative Radio Legend Rush Limbaugh Dies at 70

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh has passed away at the age of 70 after a battle with late-stage lung cancer.

The death of Limbaugh, who self-proclaimed himself the “Doctor of Democracy,” was
announced by his wife on his radio show.

“I know that I am most certainly not the Limbaugh that you tuned in to listen to today,” Kathryn Limbaugh said. “I, like you, very much wish Rush was behind this golden microphone right now, welcoming you to another exceptional three hours of broadcasting. … It is with profound sadness I must share with you directly that our beloved Rush, my wonderful husband, passed away this morning due to complications from lung cancer.”

Former President Donald Trump had said to Fox News shortly after that he had spoken with Limbaugh three or four days earlier. “He was fighting to the very end. He is a legend. He really is.”

When Limbaugh announced his cancer diagnosis in 2020, Trump had awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a surprise announcement the next day.

“This is not good news,” Trump said at the time of the diagnosis. “But what is good news is that he is the greatest fighter and winner that you will ever meet. Rush Limbaugh: Thank you for your decades of tireless devotion to our country.”

“While he was brash, at times controversial, and always opinionated, he spoke his mind as a voice for millions of Americans and approached each day with gusto,” Former President George Bush said in a statement. “Rush Limbaugh was an indomitable spirit with a big heart, and he will be missed.”

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden’s “condolences go out to the family and friends.”

Limbaugh had compared the attack of the U.S. Capitol in January to the Revolutionary War patriots.

“There’s a lot of people calling for the end of violence,” Limbaugh said on his radio program. “There’s a lot of conservatives, social media, who say that any violence or aggression at all is unacceptable. Regardless of the circumstances. I’m glad Sam Adams, Thomas Paine, the actual tea party guys, the men at Lexington and Concord didn’t feel that way.”