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By Hollie Silverman and Simon Crerar
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Michael Reagan, eldest son of former President Ronald Reagan and longtime conservative commentator, has died at age 80, according to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute.
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The foundation and institute announced his death in a post to X on Tuesday, describing him as “a steadfast guardian of his father’s legacy.”
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“Michael Reagan lived a life shaped by conviction, purpose, and an abiding devotion to President Reagan’s ideals,” the foundation said.
"We extend our heartfelt condolences to Colleen, Cameron, Ashley, and the entire Reagan family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this time of sorrow," the post continued.
No cause of death has been released.
Why It Matters
As the adopted son of the 40th president, Michael Reagan was a prominent public voice in conservative media and a visible defender of Ronald Reagan’s political legacy for decades—often speaking on his father’s ideas, the Reagan library’s mission and the meaning of the Reagan era in modern politics.
His death is also a reminder of the continuing cultural and political afterlife of the Reagan presidency—an influence that Newsweek has chronicled through reporting on the Reagan family, the Reagan library’s role and the broader effort to preserve and interpret the former president’s legacy, including in our 2016 special edition, Reagan: The Last Conservative.
What To Know
Michael Reagan was born in 1945 to Irene Flaugher and adopted shortly after birth by Ronald Reagan and his first wife, actress Jane Wyman. He later worked in media, becoming known for his nationally syndicated radio program, The Michael Reagan Show, and as a contributor to the conservative Newsmax television network.
He also wrote several books, including On the Outside Looking In and Twice Adopted, and was involved in charitable work, including serving as chair of the John Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation board.
Ronald Reagan died in 2004 after enduring Alzheimer’s disease, and the Reagan family—particularly wife Nancy Reagan—worked to maintain and safeguard his legacy in the years after his presidency and death.
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What People Are Saying
Scott Walker, president of Young America's Foundation and former governor of Wisconsin: "Michael Reagan was such a wonderful inspiration to so many of us. That was particularly true of the students who heard him at Young America’s Foundation’s programs at the Reagan Ranch. He did so much more than share stories about his father. 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."
Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida: "So sad to learn of the passing of Michael Reagan. We became friends in 1979 campaigning for our dads and maintained that friendship over the years. He loved his family and his country. Columba and I are praying for Colleen and his children."
What Happens Next
No further information has been released about the cause of death, and there were no immediate details announced about memorial arrangements.
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