'We both fight': President Trump fulfills dying man's wish with phone call
A Connecticut man who is terminally ill received a phone call from President Donald Trump on Tuesday night, fulfilling a personal wish.
Jay Barrett, who has cystic fibrosis and is receiving palliative care, is an avid Trump supporter. Having some contact with the president was on his bucket list.
The call was facilitated by Bridgette Hoskie, Barrett's sister, who is a local politician and a Democrat.
"You're my kind of man, Jay. ... I'm very proud of you," Trump said in the call. "I'll talk to you again, Jay, OK? You keep that fight going. We both fight."
The New Haven Register has published a video of the call in part, showing Barrett and Trump talking via speaker phone. In it, Trump complimented Barrett's appearance and Barrett playfully dismissed the praise using a profanity.
The newspaper has covered efforts to connect Barrett and Trump, including a previous phone call from Eric Trump.
Department of Housing and Urban Development regional chief Lynne Patton, who is from Connecticut, also has called Barrett and plans to bring him a signed gift from the president.
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Barrett only recently became a Republican; he voted for President Barack Obama in 2008. He's fond of Trump's style and policies.
"Mr. President, through thick and thin, you know there's been a lot of thicks, and there's been a lot of thins. I support you," Barrett said in the call.
Doctors don't expect Barrett, 44, to live until the 2020 election, but he hopes to beat the odds and vote for Trump.
Contributing: The Associated Press