Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger died on Thursday at age 100, leading to an outpouring of responses from prominent figures and on social media.
The diplomatic giant made many friends and enemies over his long career, which shaped the Cold War and the latter half of the 20th century.
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“America has lost one of the most dependable and distinctive voices on foreign affairs with the passing of Henry Kissinger,” former President George W. Bush said in a statement, obtained by Reuters. “I have long admired the man who fled the Nazis as a young boy from a Jewish family, then fought them in the United States Army. When he later became secretary of state, his appointment as a former refugee said as much about his greatness as it did America’s greatness.”
“He worked in the administrations of two presidents and counseled many more. I am grateful for that service and advice, but I am most grateful for his friendship,” he added. “Laura and I will miss his wisdom, his charm, and his humor. And we will always be thankful for the contributions of Henry Kissinger.”
Another secretary of state, former State Secretary Mike Pompeo, expressed his condolences in a similar message on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
“Henry Kissinger was a model of service and a great American,” he said. “He left an indelible mark on America’s history and the world. I will always be grateful for his gracious advice and help during my own time as Secretary. Always supportive and always informed, his wisdom made me better and more prepared after every one of our conversations.”
Henry Kissinger was a model of service and a great American.
From the day he came to the United States as a teenager fleeing Nazi Germany, Dr. Kissinger dedicated his life to serving this great country and keeping America safe.
He left an indelible mark on America’s history… pic.twitter.com/nfm4PPvyHp
— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) November 30, 2023
Winston Lord, former U.S. ambassador to China and a former special assistant to Kissinger at the National Security Council, sang his praises in a statement to Reuters, hailing Kissinger as his mentor.
“The world has lost a tireless advocate for peace. America has lost a towering champion for the national interest. I have lost a cherished friend and mentor,” he said. “During more than seven decades, he transformed America’s role in the world, held the nation together during a constitutional crisis, crafted visionary volumes, counseled world leaders, and enriched the national and international discourse.”
Notably, Kissinger’s death also drew a strong reaction on social media, with responses being widely negative. His name was at the top of trending on X, trending alongside Cambodia and Laos, with many posts being criticism toward his policy of saturation bombing the two nations during the Vietnam War in an attempt to cut the Ho Chi Minh trail.
“RIP BOZO,” referring to a meme celebrating someone’s death, reached the top ten of trending. It ascended with “IT FINALLY HAPPENED.” “War criminal” reached the top 25.
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Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) appeared on Fox News shortly after Kissinger’s death. She praised him as a great statesman.
“He was a leader that led through challenging times, and I hope that everyone’s reaction to his passing is to go learn a little bit more about him that you didn’t know before,” she said. “Around your dinner table or when you’re driving in the car with your kids, tell them a few Kissinger quotes that were used at strategic times. Give them a little bit of history because if we forget what happened in the past, we’re doomed to repeat it, and many times, throughout history, the United States of America went through dark times, and leaders like Kissinger stood up and they took action and they provided leadership when we needed it the most.”
