Support truly independent journalism Find out more Close Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth. Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
George W Bush reportedly described Donald Trump’s inauguration as “some weird s***”, it has emerged.
The former President attended the swearing-in ceremony on Capitol Hill on 20 January along with Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter though his father George H W Bush was unable to attend due to poor health.
But the 70-year-old was reportedly unimpressed by the show and described Mr Trump’s short, seemingly angry speech as “some weird s***” according to three people present, New York Magazine reported.
Bush on Trump era: I don't like the racism and name-calling During the speech Mr Trump referenced “American carnage” and “enriching foreign industry at the expense of American industry” and repeated his pledge to “make America great again”.
The Republican has kept a relatively low profile since leaving the White House in 2009 but was a vocal critic of Mr Trump during the election campaign – even saying he would vote for Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton after his younger brother Jeb Bush was defeated in the primaries.
Despite this, Mr Bush and his wife Laura decided to attend the inauguration. In a statement, his office said this was because he was “pleased to be able to witness the peaceful transfer of power” which they said was “a hallmark of American democracy”.
Mr Bush inadvertently became a meme during the inauguration after he struggled to get a poncho on when it began to rain.
This is not the first controversy to mar Mr Trump’s inauguration. The President took exception to media reports suggesting the crowds at his inauguration were noticeably thinner further back along the Mall compared with Mr Obama’s inauguration in 2009.
Trump Inauguration protests around the WorldShow all 14 1 /14Trump Inauguration protests around the World Trump Inauguration protests around the World Activists from Greenpeace display a message reading "Mr President, walls divide. Build Bridges!" along the Berlin wall in Berlin on January 20, 2017 to coincide with the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United State
Getty
Trump Inauguration protests around the World An activist holds up a sign at the "We Stand United" rally on the eve of US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration outside Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York on January 19, 2017 in New York
Getty
Trump Inauguration protests around the World Protesters burn a U.S. flag and a mock flag with pictures of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump outside the U.S. embassy in metro Manila, Philippines
Getty
Trump Inauguration protests around the World Filipino protestors hold placcards during a protest rally in front of the US embassy in Manila, Philippines, 20 January 2017. On the eve of President-elect Donald Trump's inaguration as the 45th president of the United States, Filipinos and Fil-Americans held a protest in front of the US embassy in Manila to denounce the incoming US president.
Getty
Trump Inauguration protests around the World Hong Kong police officers and security guards look on as an anarchist protester belonging to the Disrupt J20 movement sits after using a heavy duty D-lock and motorcycle lock to chain himself to a railing at the entrance gate to the Consulate General of the United States of America in Hong Kong to protest the inauguration of United States President-elect Donald Trump, Hong Kong, China, 20 January 2017. Two activists were arrested and taken away by Hong Kong police during the demonstration.
Getty
Trump Inauguration protests around the World A banner is unfurled on London's Tower Bridge, organised by Bridges Not Walls - a partnership between grassroots activists and campaigners working on a range of issues, formed in the wake of Donald Trump's election, which aims to build bridges to a world free from hatred and oppression.
Getty
Trump Inauguration protests around the World Protesters chain themselves to an entry point prior at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Washington, DC, U.S.
Getty
Trump Inauguration protests around the World Bridges Not Walls banner dropped from Molenbeek bridge in Brussels, Belgium, 20 January 2017, in an Greenpeace action part of protests Wolrd protest in solidarity with people in the US, the day Donald Trump sworn in as the 45th President of the United States.
Getty
Trump Inauguration protests around the World A woman holds an anti-U.S. President-elect Donald Trump placard during a rally in Tokyo, Japan,
Getty
Trump Inauguration protests around the World A Palestinian protester holds a placard during a demonstration against the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and against US President-elect Donald Trump, on January 20, 2017, near the settlement of Maale Adumim, east of Jerusalem
Getty
Trump Inauguration protests around the World Banners on North Bridge in Edinburgh as part of the Bridges Not Walls protest against US President Donald Trump on the day of his inauguration
Getty
Trump Inauguration protests around the World Russian artist Vasily Slonov (L) and his assistant carry a life-sized cutout, which is an artwork created by Slonov and titled "Siberian Inauguration", before its presentation on the occasion of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, in a street in Krasnoyarsk, Russia
Getty
Trump Inauguration protests around the World A woman holds a banner during a march to thank outgoing President Barack Obama and reject US President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration at a park in Tokyo, Japan, 20 January 2017.
EPA
Trump Inauguration protests around the World Palestinian demonstrators protesting this week against a promise by Donald Trump to re-locate the US embassy to Jerusalem
Reuters
He claimed the media was deliberately lying about the size of the crowd which he said was “the largest ever”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments