President Donald Trump was to greet the Bush family Tuesday in his latest show of peacemaking with the political clan he once fought bitterly.
Trump, whose ascendancy to the head of the Republican Party saw him exchange vitriolic attacks with the Bushes, has taken pains to demonstrate unity since the death Friday of former president George H.W. Bush, aged 94.
Ahead of Wednesday’s state funeral — where Trump will reportedly sit in the front row, but not deliver a eulogy –, the president tweeted he would visit the “wonderful Bush family” at the presidential guest residence Blair House across from the White House.
Also, Laura Bush, wife of former president George W. Bush, was coming over “to the White House this morning to be given a tour of the Christmas decorations by (First Lady) Melania,” Trump said.
Trump’s relations with the Republican establishment have been rocky since his insurgent campaign took him to the party’s nomination and then a shock election win in 2016.
He did not attend the funeral this year of George H.W. Bush’s former wife Barbara Bush, even though former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton were there.
Melania Trump represented the current White House.
Trump also did not attend the funeral in August of another Republican giant, former senator John McCain.
The Bush family has assured Trump that eulogies at Wednesday’s funeral will avoid any criticism of him, The Washington Post reported.
George H.W. Bush’s body continued to lie in state Tuesday at the US Capitol, where officials said that 13,600 people so far had come to pay their respects.
AFP
