Mitch McConnell Remembers Colin Powell as 'Trailblazing Leader'

Colin Powell, a four-star Army general and a former secretary of state and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, died on October 18 from coronavirus complications, his family said in a statement.

Powell was fully vaccinated against the virus, his family noted. “We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather, and a great American,” they wrote.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said of Powell, who served under the George W Bush administration, “Today we learned that America has lost a trailblazing leader with the passing of Colin Powell. It’s hard to imagine a more quintessential American story … Today we remember and honor a man who truly dedicated his entire life to serving his country.”

Powell was a key figure in the decision-making leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He was 84 years old at the time of his death. Credit: CSPAN via Storyful