All five living presidents gathered on Wednesday to honor a man who once sat in the Oval Office.
PresidentDonald Trumpand former PresidentsBarack Obama,George W. Bush,Bill ClintonandJimmy CarterattendedGeorge H.W. Bush‘s service Wednesday at the Washington National Cathedral, where the former president was remembered after hedied at age 94 last Friday.
First LadyMelania Trumpand former first ladiesMichelle Obama,Laura Bush,Hillary ClintonandRosalynn Carteralso paid tribute to the 41st commander in chief.
The Trumps enter the National Cathedral.Chip Somodevilla/Getty
George H.W. Bush’s funeral.Chip Somodevilla/Getty
Chip Somodevilla/Getty
The Trumps were seated next to the Obamas, and greeted the former first couple with handshakes while sitting down in the cathedral. The rest of the former presidents and first ladies were seated in the same row, including Mrs. Clinton, who lost the 2016 presidential election to Trump. The president did not appear to acknowledge the Clintons when he first arrived.
George W. was present in his capacity as a president and a son. He and wife, Mrs. Bush, greeted all the former presidents and former first ladies once they arrived.
Five vice presidents — including current Vice President Mike Pence — were also present.
Bush’sother kids—Jeb Bush, Neil Bush, Marvin Bush and Dorothy Bush Koch — were also there to honor their father.
A number of other presidential children attended as well:Chelsea Clinton(Clinton’s daughter),Susan Ford Bales(Gerald Ford‘s daughter),Tricia Nixon Cox(Richard Nixon‘s daughter) and her husband Edward Cox andLuci Baines JohnsonandLynda Johnson Robb(Lyndon Johnson‘s daughters) and their respective husbands Ian Turpin and Charles Robb.
RELATED VIDEO: In Memoriam: George H.W. Bush
Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian who knew Bush,told PEOPLEthat the former president included Trump at the funeral because “he does not want to stiff a sitting president.”
In April, after former First LadyBarbara Bushdied at age 92, Mrs. Trump, Obama, Mrs. Obama, George W., Mrs. Bush, Clinton, Mrs. Clinton and Bushposed together for a pictureat herfuneral.
Trump, Carter and Mrs. Carter did not attend her funeral, according to theAtlanta Journal-Constitution.
Trump shared a videotaped message in which he called his predecessors “some of America’s finest public servants.”
source: people.com
