Donald Trump calls tributes to Colin Powell ‘fake news’, barely a day after the general’s death

Donald Trump waited little more than 24 hours after Colin Powell’s death to rip into his record and dismiss praise for the former secretary of state as “fake news”.

Mr Trump, who is known for continuing feuds even after a rival is no longer alive, also criticised Mr Powell for making "big mistakes", particularly in relation to the Iraq war.

Mr Powell died on Monday, aged 84, from Covid-19 complications after a long and illustrious career which saw him become National Security Adviser to Ronald Reagan, chairman of the joint Chiefs of Staff under Bill Clinton, and ultimately the first black US secretary of state under George W. Bush.

Following his death tributes poured in from across the political spectrum and around the world.

But, in a statement on Tuesday, Mr Trump said: "Wonderful to see Colin Powell, who made big mistakes on Iraq and famously, so-called weapons of mass destruction, be treated in death so beautifully by the Fake News Media. Hope that happens to me someday."

The former US president added: "He was a classic RINO [Republican In Name Only], if even that, always being the first to attack other Republicans.

"He made plenty of mistakes, but anyway, may he rest in peace!"

Mr Powell had been a particular target of criticism from Mr Trump while he was alive.

The former president frequently attacked him and other Republican politicians who led the country to war in Iraq.

Mr Powell played a leading role building support among US allies for the invasion in 2003. That included arguing to the United Nations that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, evidence of which was never found. Mr Powell later called it a "blot" on his record.

In turn, Mr Powell had been highly critical of Mr Trump, especially after the riot at the US capitol on Jan 6. He called Mr Trump a national disgrace and lambasted other Republicans who refused to censure the former president.

At the time, Mr Powell said: "They should have known better, but they were so taken by their political standing and how none of them wanted to put themselves at political risk. They would not stand up and tell the truth or stand up and criticise him."

Mr Powell had distanced himself from the Republican Party in his later years and publicly backed Joe Biden’s presidential bid against Mr Trump in 2020.

Democrats reacted angrily to Mr Trump's statement.

Eric Swalwell, a Democrat congressman, called on Republicans to show the "spine to disavow" it.

Mr Trump similarly criticised John McCain after his death in 2018, although he ordered the US flag to fly at half-staff over the White House and all public buildings.

In a speech in the months that followed, Mr Trump blamed the former Republican presidential nominee for "war in the Middle East," and said: "I have to be honest, I’ve never liked him much."

Mr Trump also said he "didn’t get a 'thank you'” for giving McCain “the funeral he wanted."

Meanwhile, Mr Trump also launched a legal action against Congress and the National Archives in an attempt to block White House records relating to the Jan 6 riot being disclosed.

A Congressional committee is investigating the events and seeking the documents.

Democrat congressman Bennie Thompson, the committee's chairman, said: "The former president's clear objective is to stop the committee from getting to the facts about January 6th and his lawsuit is nothing more than an attempt to delay and obstruct our probe.

"It's hard to imagine a more compelling public interest than trying to get answers about an attack on our democracy and an attempt to overturn the results of an election."

In the legal action Mr Trump's own lawyers referred to him as a "former president," terminology he has avoided using.