A White House ceremony set for Thursday will honor the late former First Lady Barbara Bush, but her son, former President George W. Bush, is notably not expected to attend—a decision that highlights the enduring tension between the Bush family and President Donald Trump.
According to The Washington Post, First Lady Melania Trump will host the East Room event, which will unveil a new postage stamp commemorating Barbara Bush, who was the wife of former President George H.W. Bush. While the event is expected to include several members of the Bush family, George W. Bush’s absence has been confirmed by White House officials.
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“Attendees include Doro Bush Koch, George W. Bush’s younger sister, who is listed as one of several featured speakers at the unveiling, and Alice Yates, chief executive of the George and Barbara Bush Foundation,” the Post reported.
Though Bush has acknowledged Trump’s political success in the past, he has consistently kept his distance from the former president and the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. He notably refrained from endorsing Trump in any of his three presidential campaigns and did not vote for him in either 2016 or 2020.
Instead, Bush wrote in Condoleezza Rice, his former secretary of state and national security adviser, as his preferred candidate during the 2020 election. Trump, for his part, has been openly critical of Bush’s presidency, often disparaging his record.
As reported by the Post, Trump called Bush’s presidency “uninspiring” and placed blame on him for initiating U.S. involvement in the Middle East, stating he got the country “into the quicksand of the Middle East (and then not winning!).”
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While the event on Thursday aims to celebrate the legacy of Barbara Bush, widely admired for her dedication to literacy and family values, the absence of her eldest son draws attention to the political rift that has long simmered between the Bush and Trump camps. The Bush family, once the face of the Republican establishment, has frequently found itself at odds with Trump’s combative style and populist approach.
Still, the ceremony is expected to proceed with dignity and respect for the former First Lady’s life and service. With Doro Bush Koch and others speaking on behalf of the family, Barbara Bush’s legacy will be honored, despite the silent statement made by her son’s decision not to attend.
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