President Trump on Thursday lauded this week’s \u00ab\u00a0beautiful tribute\u00a0\u00bb to the late President George H. W. Bush, his first public comments on the state\u2026<\/b>
\nPresident Trump on Thursday lauded this week’s \u00ab\u00a0beautiful tribute\u00a0\u00bb to the late President George H. W. Bush, his first public comments on the state funeral for the 41st president.
\u00ab\u00a0The memorial was a beautiful tribute to President Bush’s extraordinary life and a noble legacy to public service,\u00a0\u00bb Trump said during a Hanukkah reception at the White House.
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Trump called Bush a \u00ab\u00a0wonderful man\u00a0\u00bb and added, \u00ab\u00a0We will always remember this great statesman and beloved American patriot.\u00a0\u00bb
The president and first lady Melania Trump attended Wednesday’s funeral at the Washington National Cathedral along with all four living former presidents. Trump was not asked to eulogize Bush.
Speakers at the funeral avoided taking direct shots at Trump, but many observers pointed out that tributes to Bush’s humility and decency stood in contrast to Trump’s rancorous style of leadership.
Trump also had an awkward encounter with his predecessors, briefly shaking hands with former President Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama, but declining to greet former President Clinton and his 2016 opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton .
Citing unnamed administration officials, The New York Times reported Wednesday that Trump \u00ab\u00a0has been snappish with aides most of the week\u00a0\u00bb because he has been \u00ab\u00a0miffed in part by so many ceremonial events not related to him\u00a0\u00bb and is \u00ab\u00a0impatient for the memorials to end but expressed pride in himself for remaining publicly civil.\u00a0\u00bb
Bush died on Friday at the age of 94. He will be buried in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n