President Donald Trump shook former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama’s hands while taking his seat at the funeral of George H.W. Bush.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump are seated alongside the Obama’s in the same row as all other former living presidents. The gathering of the current and former U.S. leaders is an extraordinary moment in U.S. history, marking the first time all of the men have been in the same room together.
President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton, former First Lady Hillary Clinton, and former President Jimmy Carter sit before the funeral service for former President George H. W. Bush at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., on December 5, 2018. (Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
Former President George W. Bush will eulogize his father at the state funeral along with former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson, and H.W. biographer Jon Meacham.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for the state funeral for former President George H.W. Bush at the National Cathedral December 05, 2018 in Washington, D.C. A WWII combat veteran, Bush served as a member of Congress from Texas, ambassador to the United Nations, director of the CIA, vice president and 41st president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The president tweeted ahead of the ceremony that he was looking forward to the state funeral and that he is looking at it as a celebration of his life.
Looking forward to being with the Bush family. This is not a funeral, this is a day of celebration for a great man who has led a long and distinguished life. He will be missed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 5, 2018
H.W.’s casket was led to the National Cathedral from the U.S. Capitol rotunda, where it has laid in state for nearly 36 hours. Thousands of Americans came to pay their respects to H.W.’s body, including the president and first lady late Monday evening. Trump saluted the casket while Melania held her hand over her heart. (RELATED: Here’s A Look Back At George H.W. Bush’s Life In Pictures)
Following the state funeral, Bush’s body will be loaded aboard Air Force One for another memorial service in Houston, Texas. The casket will then be placed aboard a train toward its final resting place in College Station, Texas at H.W.’s presidential library.
