To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

'Wonderful Inspiration': Adopted Son of Ronald Reagan Dies at 80

Tyler O'Neil : Jan 7, 2026  The Daily Signal

"Michael used his voice to champion freedom, personal responsibility, and the principles that defined his father's presidency." -Fred Ryan, board chair of The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute

[DailySignal.com] Michael Reagan, a conservative commentator and the eldest son of President Ronald Reagan, died Sunday in Los Angeles of cancer at age 80. (Screengrab image: via Sky News AU)

"Michael was and will always remain a beloved husband, father, and grandpa," read a statement from his family. "Our hearts are deeply broken as we grieve the loss of a man who meant so much to all who knew and loved him."

Scott Walker, former Wisconsin governor and president of Young America's Foundation, called Reagan "such a wonderful inspiration to many of us."

Reagan spoke at Young America's Foundation programs at the Reagan Ranch, President Ronald Reagan's "Western White House," which the foundation acquired in 1998.

"He did so much more than share stories about his father," Walker said in a statement Tuesday. "He challenged the next generation to share the values he stood for throughout his public life. He called on them to be happy warriors in the battle to uphold the founding principles of our republic."

Walker also noted that Reagan and his daughter, Ashley, headlined in 2000 the first program YAF hosted in Dixon, Illinois, at Ronald Reagan's boyhood home.

The former Wisconsin governor said he last spoke with Reagan on Dec. 22, when they discussed Reagan's health struggles but also mentioned his faith.

Michael Reagan was born John Charles Flaugher on March 18, 1945, but Ronald Reagan and his first wife, actress Jane Wyman, adopted him shortly after his birth.

Unlike his more left-leaning half-siblings Patti Davis and Ron Reagan (children of the president and his second wife, Nancy), Michael Reagan stood by his adopted father's conservative principles.

His sister, Maureen Reagan, who died in 2001, also remained conservative, becoming co-chair of the Republican National Committee.

While Michael Reagan embraced his father's legacy—and wrote a book calling for a new "Reagan Revolution" in 2011—he wrote two memoirs about his struggles growing up: "Michael Reagan: On the Outside Looking in," and "Twice Adopted." The latter referenced his adoption by Ronald Reagan and his "second adoption" in embracing the Christian gospel.

While Michael Reagan initially opposed Donald Trump's candidacy in 2016, he praised Trump for having "made the GOP great again" in 2024.

Michael Reagan championed an aggressive conservatism, faulting the Trump administration for lackluster deportation numbers and criticizing House Republicans for what he saw as insufficient seriousness in combatting fraud in Minnesota.

One of his final columns also claimed that New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's inauguration gave his Hizzoner's socialist supporters a "preview to Hell."

Reagan is survived by his wife, Colleen Reagan, his son, Cameron Reagan, and his daughter, Ashley Reagan Dunster.

Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy remembered Reagan as "far more than a political commentator" and "the living embodiment of his father's legacy," in a statement on Tuesday.

"The Reagan family has lost a devoted husband and father, America has lost a great patriot, and I have lost a dear friend," Ruddy said.

The chairman of the board of The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute said Reagan was "a steadfast guardian of his father's legacy" in a statement on Tuesday.

"Michael used his voice to champion freedom, personal responsibility, and the principles that defined his father's presidency," board chair Fred Ryan stated. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

Tyler O'Neil is senior editor at The Daily Signal and the author of two books: "Making Hate Pay: The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center," and "The Woketopus: The Dark Money Cabal Manipulating the Federal Government."







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

Why Christianity Is Soaring in Iran While Islam Is Collapsing

Canada's Senate Passes Anti-Christian 'Bible Ban' Bill C-9, Now Heads to House of Commons

Good News: US Private Payrolls Post Biggest Gain Since January 2025

Four Senate Republicans Again Unite With Dems to Block Voter ID, SAVE America Act

Senate Passes Border and ICE Funding Megabill

Report: Obamacare Fraud Could Cost Taxpayers $25 Billion This Year

CALIFRAUDIA? Steve Hilton Says Whistleblower Claims of Separate Post Office 'Buckets' for Ballots Arriving AFTER Election Day

Detransitioner Chloe Cole Testifies at Fiery Senate Hearing on Mutilation of Gender-confused Children

NY Assembly Sends Bill to Hochul's Desk to Replace 'Mother' and 'Father' With 'Gestating' and 'Non-Gestating Parent'

Unbelievable! DOJ Exposes the Evil Truth About the SPLC Paying Extremists to Perpetuate Racism

New US Army Hymn 'Eternal Father, Hear Our Prayer' Composed by Former US Army Soldiers Choir Director is Endorsed by Army Chaplains

Henry Nowak's Death Exposed Britain's Two-Tier Justice System

Trump, Netanyahu Play Down Phone Dispute, Hezbollah Refuses to Stop Attacking Israel

Prayer Alert: Tulsi Gabbard Reveals Husband's 7-hour surgery 'Went Well'; But He's 'in a Lot of Pain'

John Bolton to Plead Guilty to Retaining Classified Information

The Texas Rangers' Courageous Stand against LGBT Influence in MLB

Trump Administration Declines Pride Month Observances across the Government

Louisiana Governor Landry Signs 'Biological Truth Act,' Erasing Subjective Gender Labels

Breitbart Exclusive—Doug Burgum: Trump's Restorations of Fountains, Monuments, and Parks Show Squalor Is a 'Choice'

Washington Nationals Fire Exec after Team's Anti-Christian Bias Was Exposed; But Will They Change?



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



Subscribe to
Breaking Christian News


Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com