Gingrich: Bushes view themselves as closer to Obamas, Clintons than to Trump

by Brett Samuels - 09/12/18 4:41 PM ET

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and Fox News host Laura Ingraham chided former President George W. Bush on Wednesday for his lack of vocal support for President Trump.

The two did so as Bush prepares to hit the campaign trail for a handful of GOP candidates this fall.

“In some ways there is a presidential establishment. [The Bushes] see themselves in some ways as closer to the Clintons and the Obamas because they are all in the club,” Gingrich said on Ingraham’s radio show.

“But on one level, I don’t blame them. Trump was very tough about Bush’s policies,” added Gingrich, who left the House just before Bush took office.

{mosads}Ingraham was more critical, suggesting that Bush declined to speak out on issues during the Obama administration. She also questioned how Bush could campaign for Republican candidates if he doesn’t support Trump.

Bush has largely refrained from making public remarks about Trump. The former president has reportedly joked that the Trump administration makes him look “pretty good” by comparison.

Trump was sharply critical of George W. Bush during the 2016 presidential campaign, appearing to blame him at one point for allowing the Sept. 11 attacks to take place. Trump also defeated George’s brother, Jeb Bush, in the 2016 GOP primary after labeling him as “low energy.”

George W. Bush will make stops in Tampa and Palm Beach, Fla., later this week to fundraise for Republican Senate nominee Gov. Rick Scott (R) in his bid to unseat Sen. Bill Nelson (D).

He is also expected to stump for North Dakota Senate candidate Rep. Kevin Cramer (R) and House candidates Reps. Will Hurd (R-Texas) and Pete Sessions (R-Texas). He is not expected to appear in support of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

“The Bushes represent an establishment, Ted Cruz is a populist and I think in some ways they see him as being like Trump,” Gingrich argued. “There are two wings of the Texas Republican Party, and the establishment wing has been steadily losing ground, and they resent it.”

“The party has been very, very good to the Bushes, and at some level it seems to me that they ought to at least consider being good to the party,” Gingrich said.