Trump, Obama, Clinton and Carter, all in a row at Bush funeral
In a remarkable scene inside the Washington National Cathedral on Wednesday, President Trump joined all four living former presidents at the state funeral for former President George H.W. Bush.
Trump, accompanied by first lady Melania Trump, shook hands with former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama before taking a seat on the aisle in the first row along with former President Bill Clinton, former first lady and ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter.
Slideshow: Photos: State funeral for former President George H.W. Bush held in Washington, D.C. >>>
Trump did not extend a hand to the Clintons, who were seated next the Obamas, though Melania Trump shook hands with Bill Clinton as Trump gave his coat to their military escort.
It was the first time since his inauguration that Trump encountered the Obamas and Clintons — who have been highly critical of his presidency — in person.
George H.W. Bush, who voted for Hilary Clinton over Trump in the 2016 president election, didn’t attend Trump’s inauguration.
The president did not attend the funeral of former first lady Barbara Bush in April, although first lady Melania Trump did, and was photographed in a group with both former presidents Bush, the Obamas and the Clintons, raising some eyebrows when she warmly greeted Barack and Michelle Obama.
Slideshow: PHOTOS: The world remembers George H.W. Bush >>>
Trump was not invited to the funeral in September of Sen. John McCain, who he repeatedly criticized for voting against his health care plan to replace Obamacare. George W. Bush and Barack Obama both delivered eulogies at McCain’s funeral, and Bush jokingly gave Michelle Obama a mint during the service — a gag he repeated upon arriving at the Washington National Cathedral Wednesday.
In her recently published memoir, Michelle Obama wrote that she will “never forgive” Trump for pushing the so-called birther conspiracy, which she believes put her family’s safety at risk.
_____
Read more from Yahoo News:
