Former President George W. Bush has opened up about his friendship with former First Lady Michelle Obama and the viral Altoids incident that captured the nation's attention. The moment occurred in September 2018 when Bush was seen discreetly passing a mint to Obama during Senator John McCain's funeral. Speaking on the Today show with his daughter Jenna Bush Hager, Bush shared his thoughts on why the gesture became so widely discussed.
Bush Reflects on the Altoids Moment
“I get a little antsy, as I’m sure you know,” Bush told his daughter. “And I was sitting next to Michelle, that’s who I sit next to at funerals.” He explained that he was teasing her and thought she might appreciate an Altoid. “I slipped her an Altoid. Not as a joke, but I thought she might want one.” After the funeral, Obama informed him that he was “trending,” a term Bush admitted he didn’t understand at the time. He chuckled, “I didn’t know what trending meant.”
Bush offered his theory on why the moment resonated: “It turns out the country is starved to see a White, center-right Republican and an African-American center-left Democrat having fun, and being able to converse, not as political figures, but as citizens.”
A Friendship Beyond Politics
The bond between Bush and Obama has been a subject of public interest for years. In 2016, they embraced at the dedication of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. At the funeral of Bush’s father, former President George H.W. Bush, in December 2018, Bush playfully offered Obama another Altoid. Obama has described Bush as her “partner-in-crime,” and in a 2019 interview, she stated, “We disagree on policy, but we don’t disagree on humanity. We don’t disagree about love and compassion.” She added, “I think that’s true for all of us. It’s just that we get lost in our fear of what’s different.”
Looking Ahead
Jenna Bush Hager revealed that her father plans to bring a “crate of Altoids” to the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center this summer. During the interview, Bush also reflected on democracy and urged optimism about America’s future. “I would hope people would take a look at our history and realize we’re an imperfect nation trying to be more perfect, but be optimistic about the future of the country,” he concluded.
