Reflecting on my journey, there’s one influence I can’t ignore—Rush Limbaugh. Without his presence on the airwaves, I doubt I’d find myself writing for RedState today.

Growing up amidst liberal environments, my upbringing was steeped in progressive ideologies. Yet, I always felt like the odd one out, not because of sexuality but due to my conservative beliefs. Despite being told Ronald Reagan was akin to a villain, my perspective was different from what I was hearing.

In the 1990s, while navigating a Southern California freeway, I stumbled upon Rush Limbaugh’s show. Curiosity piqued by the widespread allegations of racism and extremism against him, I decided to tune in and discover what the fuss was about.

Contrary to the negative labels, I found Limbaugh to be an insightful thinker with an extraordinary ability to convey his ideas, encouraging listeners to engage in critical thinking.

From that moment, I became an avid listener, soaking in his broadcasts whenever possible.

Sadly, five years ago on a Tuesday, Limbaugh lost his battle with advanced lung cancer, passing away at the age of 70.

One man who remembers the “Maha Rushie” is President Donald Trump, who delivered a moving address Tuesday night to his family and to his memory.

Watch:

President Trump gives an emotional tribute to Rush Limbaugh on the 5th anniversary of Rush’s passing.

“There will never be another Rush Limbaugh” “We miss him” ❤️🙏 pic.twitter.com/fc4kdPMnfh

— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 18, 2026

The incredibly prescient Rush realized earlier than many that the billionaire real estate mogul was a game-changer who might just be the man we needed to stop the decline of American excellence:

Well, this is the 5th anniversary of the loss of a really great man, a great conservative, somebody that loved our country, loved his family, loved a lot of things…

He was a friend of mine, Rush Limbaugh. I had never met Rush when I announced that I was running. I’ll never forget, 2015. And I got a call, we’re all excited that Rush Limbaugh just endorsed you. I never met him. He liked my opening speech. He liked when I got up in June and I said, you know we got bad borders, we got bad crime, we got bad everything. And he liked it.

I came down the escalator with, now, our First Lady, and he thought it was great, and he endorsed me, and then I got to know him, and I realized what a great guy he was. But it’s five years that we miss Rush, as Sean Hannity would often say, “there will never be another Rush Limbaugh.”

So to his family, his great wife and family, I just want to say, we miss you all. We miss him, and there’ll never be anybody like him. Thank you very much.

MORE: Happy Birthday El Rushbo – Thank You for Being the Reason We Are Here (VIP)

Missing the Gipper: Reagan Foundation’s Moving Commemoration on the 20th Anniversary of His Death

It was an extremely poignant moment when, in 2020, Trump invited the seriously ill “King of Talk Radio” to his State of the Union address — where he surprised him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Millions of observers became verklempt:

Four years ago today, the legendary Rush Limbaugh went to be with the Lord.

Here’s a flashback to 2020, when President Trump surprised him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during the State of the Union.

Rest in Peace, Rush. pic.twitter.com/DcCD1ujCFp

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 17, 2025

The official Rush website also released an homage to “The Doctor of Democracy” on Tuesday:

Rush lives on in all of our hearts. Thank you, Rush, for being our steady source of wisdom and laughter for so many years.

– The Limbaugh Family pic.twitter.com/jPw6WTuobQ

— Official Rush Limbaugh (@OfficialRushUSA) February 17, 2026

You were one of a kind, and you are missed. RIP, Mr. Limbaugh.

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