Former President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the death of his friend. 

Trump took to his Truth Social account to announce the death of veteran cable news anchor Lou Dobbs. Dobbs, a former CNN anchor, passed away at the age of 78. 

In a statement on Truth, the former president described the veteran anchor as his friend and a talented reporter. 

“The Great Lou Dobbs has just passed away — A friend, and truly incredible Journalist, Reporter, and Talent,” The former president wrote on his Truth Social. “He understood the World, and what was ‘happening,’ better than others. Lou was unique in so many ways, and loved our Country. Our warmest condolences to his wonderful wife, Debi, and family. He will be greatly missed!”

Dobbs and the former president were close friends, with reports on Rolling Stone showing that Trump considered the former host for a role in his cabinet.

“The former president loves Dobbs so much that he’d even put him on speakerphone in the Oval Office while members of his senior staff and Cabinet were convened there to have sensitive discussions on policy and messaging,” the report on Rolling Stone reads. “Sometimes, he’d cut off senior government personnel mid-sentence so that he could tell “Lou” to interject.”

Dobbs, a former Fox News host, won numerous journalism and broadcasting awards. His awards include a Lifetime Achievement Emmy for Business News and one for the  George Foster Peabody Award. The veteran journalist won the  George Foster Peabody Award for his 1987 stock market crash reports.

Dobbs spent most of his career at CNN, briefly serving as network vice president. He joined the network in 1980 and left in 2009. Dobbs hosted Fox Business Network’s  “Lou Dobbs Tonight” from 2011 to 2021. The show was the network’s highest-rated program before his departure in 2021. 

Mike Lindell, owner of My Pillow, paid tribute to Dobbs on X following his death. Lindel described Dobbs as a “national treasure.”

“I was so proud to have him on my network FrankSpeech! I will miss our strategy talks and his mentorship! He was so courageous and an inspiration! Praying for his wife Debi and family!” Lindel wrote.

Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s former attorney, described Dobbs as a great patriot and one of America’s greatest journalists and commentators

GOP Senate hopeful Kari Lake said she was heartbroken by news of Dobbs’ passing. She described the veteran journalist as a man who embraced the America-first ideology before many even heard of it.

“I am saddened to hear about the passing of the great Lou Dobbs. My heartfelt condolences go out to the Dobbs family during this difficult time,” wrote Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL).