U.S. President Barack Obama has written a private letter to Michael Jackson's family, David Axelrod said on Sunday, a top White House adviser.

He said that White House has no plans to release the letter to the public.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said President Barack Obama saw pop star Michael Jackson as a spectacular performer and music icon.

Gibbs also said at Friday's press conference that Obama believed some aspects of Jackson's life were sad and tragic and offered his condolences to the musician's family.

The White House did not issue an official statement following Jackson's death on Thursday after he suffered cardiac arrest and died.

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