Trumps greet Obamas at President George H.W. Bush’s funeral
President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump take their seats next to former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama at Washington National Cathedral.
President Trump exchanged greetings with his predecessor Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama after arriving at George H.W. Bush ’s funeral Wednesday, but there was a noticeable lack of warmth between the commander-in-chief and the woman he defeated to win the White House.
Bush’s funeral brought together all of the living former presidents – Obama, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter – as well as Trump and first lady Melania Trump.
The pair was seated in the front row of the Washington National Cathedral next to the Obamas. Trump shook hands with Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama, who greeted him by saying, “Good morning,” before he took his seat. Melania Trump also shook hands with the Obamas and Bill Clinton and nodded at Hillary Clinton.
But neither President Trump nor the Clintons appeared to acknowledge one another when the president arrived. Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, stared straight ahead while former President Bill Clinton glanced over.
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Trump and Hillary Clinton vociferously clashed throughout their 2016 presidential campaigns – and their feud has continued into Trump’s presidency.
Carter is seated at the end of the row, next to Hillary Clinton.
When George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush arrived at the cathedral, the family greeted the Trumps, all of the former presidents and their wives.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump said he was “looking forward to being with the Bush family.”
“This is not a funeral, this is a day of celebration for a great man who has led a long and distinguished life,” Trump said in a tweet. “He will be missed!”
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The nation’s 41st president died on Nov. 30 at the age of 94 at his home in Houston. His casket arrived in Washington, D.C., Monday, where he had been lying in repose in the Capitol rotunda. After the funeral service, Bush will be flown back to Texas to be buried.
Despite his fractious relationship with the Bush family over the years – the late president’s son Jeb Bush was also a 2016 presidential contender – the Trumps have sought to honor the 41st president. The couple paid their respects at the U.S. Capitol Monday and visited members of the Bush family at the Blair House presidential guesthouse, where they are staying, for a private, 20-minute visit Tuesday.
Trump declared Wednesday to be a national day of mourning.
The Bush family reportedly ensured Wednesday’s service would not become a platform for anti-Trump sentiments.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
