Tradition and respect for the Bush family kept President Donald Trump from attending
Former First Lady Barbara Bush was laid to rest by her family this past weekend, 21 April 2018.
While it is well known that President Donald Trump does not have a cordial relationship with the Bush family, his non-attendance at Barbara Bush’s funeral was not meant in spite.
It is common for sitting president’s not to attend the funerals of former first lady’s. In recent times, then-President Barack Obama did not attend the funerals of Republican first ladies Nancy Reagan and Betty Ford. The last sitting president to attend a first lady’s funeral was John F. Kennedy, who went to Eleanor Roosevelt’s service in 1962.
It is common, however for the current First Lady to attend her predecessor’s funeral service. As such, Melania Trump attended Barbara Bush’s funeral in Texas.
Melania was to stand in as a representative for the First family. Former first lady’s Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama were also in attendance.
The White House told media outlets such as the BBC that President Donald Trump would not attend “to avoid disruptions due to added security, and out of respect for the Bush Family.”
The President spent his weekend at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. He said that he would be watching the service. He also added that a remembrance display has been set up in front of Bush’s portrait in the White House.
He Tweeted:
“Today, my thoughts and prayers are with the entire Bush family.”
Barbara Bush
Barbara Bush has been lauded for her work in adult literacy.
The former first lady’s coffin is being kept at St Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas.
