No matter how divisive politics can become and how dirty presidential campaign can be, there has been a long tradition of presidents working together with their predecessors and developing close friendships.
If Donald Trump sits through the Bush funeral without blurting out QAnon conspiracies and throwing his own feces, the mainstream media will trip all over itself to praise him (it's already started). They couldn't possibly set the bar any lower for this man.
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) December 5, 2018
The election of Donald Trump changed many things and destroyed many long-held traditions, which was evident at the funeral of the 41st president, George H.W. Bush, on Wednesday. As the current president and first lady arrived, the pleasantries and warm chatter between Jimmy Carter, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack and Michelle Obama, and George W. and Laura Bush turned to stony silence.
The Obamas, as always, were graceful and returned handshakes and greetings, but there was none of the light-hearted small talk usually seen by the group. Trump did not attempt to shake the Clintons or President Carter’s hand. Hillary pointedly looked away at his arrival and Bill did not greet Trump at all.
‘I have to say I was struck when President Trump and Melania Trump came to the front row, that it was as if a chill had descended on that front row…You had seen a lot of chatty talk between the Clintons and the Obamas, the Carters. But when Donald Trump sat down, the greeting that he was given by Barack Obama and Michelle Obama was about as cool as it could have been.’
A source close to Trump on his attendance at Bush 41 funeral: “it’s in his heart to bury old grudges.” Realistically, the same source recognized Trump doesn’t do truces for very long.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) December 5, 2018
It shouldn’t come as a surprise. Seated in the row with him was a man Trump insisted was not a legitimate president and rose to political prominence by leading a racist birther campaign, a woman he accused of making up lies about him in order to sell her book, a man he accused of multiple sexual assaults while never acknowledging the accusations made against him, a woman he tried to demand be placed under yet another criminal investigation, and a man Trump has insulted by saying he was the second worst president in history after Obama.
"Watching Trump, the former presidents and their spouses at Bush 41's funeral is uncomfortable. I keep wondering if Trump will behave," – A WH source who also tells me POTUS won't behave "for long." @realDonaldTrump
— Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) December 5, 2018
While all have the grace not to get up and leave the room when he arrives at any function with them, Trump doesn’t deserve even that much respect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BM5u-IFQao
Featured image screenshot via YouTube
