President Trump on Thursday lauded this week’s «beautiful tribute» 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 «beautiful tribute» to the late President George H. W. Bush, his first public comments on the state funeral for the 41st president.
«The memorial was a beautiful tribute to President Bush’s extraordinary life and a noble legacy to public service,» Trump said during a Hanukkah reception at the White House.
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Trump called Bush a «wonderful man» and added, «We will always remember this great statesman and beloved American patriot.»
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 «has been snappish with aides most of the week» because he has been «miffed in part by so many ceremonial events not related to him» and is «impatient for the memorials to end but expressed pride in himself for remaining publicly civil.»
Bush died on Friday at the age of 94. He will be buried in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n