Former President George W. Bush shed light on a moment with Michell Obama at the late Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain’s funeral in 2018 that quickly went viral.
Bush revisited the interaction with the former first lady during an interview with his daughter, Jenna Bush Hager, on the April 21 episode of “History Talks.” He suggested their moment as citizens rather than “political figures” was what grabbed attention at the time.
“I get a little antsy, as I’m sure you know, and I was sitting next to Michelle. That’s who I sit next to at funerals,” Bush said.
“And I was kind of teasing her and stuff, and I slipped her an Altoid. Not as a joke, but I thought she might want one.” He went on to say that he had no idea the simple gesture between them could shock the public in such a dramatic way.
Bush addressed his daughter directly, saying, “And I got in the car afterwards, and you said, ‘You’re trending’ — I didn’t know what trending meant.”
He continued, “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.”
“And I intend to continue to try to do that,” Bush said.
Obama has described the Altoid as an “old cough drop” in previous interviews.
TOPSHOT – US President George W. Bush (2ndR) and First Lady Laura Bush (2ndL) greet US President-elect Barack Obama (L) and his wife Michelle Obama on the North Portico of the White House in Washington, DC January 20, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
He previously addressed the public reaction to the move in a 2021 interview with CBS Sunday Morning. “The American people were so surprised that Michelle Obama and I could be friends,” Bush said at the time.
“I didn’t realize at the time that anybody noticed what we were doing… He is my partner in crime at every major thing where all the formers gather… I love him to death.” @MichelleObama talks about George W. Bush handing her a cough drop (an old one at that!) at McCain’s funeral pic.twitter.com/hS9fV0DHjB
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 11, 2018
Obama echoed his thoughts in a 2026 interview with Today. “I didn’t realize at the time that anybody noticed what we were doing. We were sitting together — President Bush and I, we are forever seat-mates. Because of protocol, that’s how we sit at all the major functions,” she said. (RELATED: Jill Biden Bids $35,000 To Appear On Queer Show ‘Heated Rivalry’)
“He is my partner in crime at every major thing where all the formers gather. So we’re together all the time, and I love him to death,” she said.
McCain died Aug. 25, 2018 at the age of 81. His funeral took place in September of that year.