Minutes before the funeral for late former First Lady Barbara Bush began in Houston, Saturday, President Donald Trump said in a pair of tweets that his "thoughts and prayers" are with her family.
"Today, my thoughts and prayers are with the entire Bush family. In memory of First Lady Barbara Bush, there is a remembrance display located at her portrait in the Center Hall of the @WhiteHouse," he said in the first message.
He followed up, saying that he was "heading to the Southern White House to watch the Funeral Service of Barbara Bush. First Lady Melania has arrived in Houston to pay our respects. Will be a beautiful day!"
In addition to Melania Trump, three other former first ladies are attending the funeral of Barbara Bush, carrying on a decades-long tradition of first ladies attending the funerals of others who spent time in the White House as a president's wife.
Bush's daughter-in-law Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, and Hillary Clinton are in attendance with their husbands, former Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton. Mrs. Bush's husband, former President George H.W. Bush is also attending the services.
Another living first lady, Rosalynn Carter, 90, is not in attendance as she is recovering from surgery, reports The Washington Post. Her husband, former President Jimmy Carter is also not in attendance, as he is away on an overseas trip.
The White House said in a statement that the president did not travel to Houston with his wife for the funeral out of respect for the Bush family and friends and to avoid disruptions due to added security, reports CNN.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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