Politics - News Analysis

The Speakers For Bush’s Funeral Have Been Announced — And Trump Isn’t One Of Them

According to CNN, former President George W. Bush will be among those eulogizing his late father, former President George H.W. Bush, during a funeral Wednesday at the Washington National Cathedral.

Donald Trump, meanwhile, will not speak during the funeral, according to CNN, and will instead make a condolence call to the Bush family on Tuesday. Though he won’t speak at the funeral, Trump will be in attendance along with first lady Melania Trump.

Presidents are traditionally asked to eulogize presidents who have died — and in past state events like this, that has been the case — but the Bush family is unlike any other and has another president in the family who will fill that role.

In addition to George W. Bush, those expected to eulogize George H.W. Bush on Wednesday include Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) and Bush biographer Jon Meacham, CNN reported.

Bush died on Friday at the age of 94. Funeral services will be held throughout the week for Bush, whose remains will fly to Washington, D.C., on Monday from Texas.

Despite having previously feuded with the Bush family, Trump has offered praise for the late Bush in recent days. While in Argentina for the Group of 20 summit, Trump told reporters that Bush was a “wonderful man.”

“He was a very fine man. I met him on a number of occasions,” Trump added. “He was a terrific guy and he’ll be missed. He lived a full life and an exemplary life.”

Trump directed the presidential plane — called Air Force One when the sitting President is aboard — to pick up Bush’s casket and transport it to Washington.

“We’ll be spending three days of mourning and three days of celebrating a really great man’s life,” Trump said in Argentina where he was attending the G20 summit. “So, we look forward to doing that, and he certainly deserves it. He really does. He was a very special person.”
Bush will lie in state until Wednesday morning when his casket will then be transported to the National Cathedral for the first of two funeral services for the former president.

Jim McGrath, Bush’s spokesman, tweeted a photo of Sully, Bush’s service dog, laying in front of the late President’s casket on Sunday night with the caption, “Mission Complete.”

Also, it’s important to remember this moment from a few months ago when Trump ridiculed George H.W. Bush famous words about a “thousand points of light” which was Bush’s call to promote volunteerism. Trump mocked that idea because for Trump it’s never about sacrifice to help others it’s always about “Trump First.”

Comments

Comments are currently closed.