Recalling the memorable moment of the two embraced at the opening of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and their interaction at the funeral of Senator John McCain in 2018, where he gave an Altoid, Bush he said he was surprised by the reaction of the people.
“The American people were so surprised that Michelle Obama and I could be friends,” Bush said in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning. “Americans are so polarized in their thinking that they can’t imagine a George W. Bush and a Michelle Obama being friends.”
“It was a friendship,” added former First Lady Laura Bush.
In the interview, Bush called on Congress to reduce “harsh rhetoric” about immigration, adding that he hopes doing so will “set a more respectful tone” with immigrants and lead to more policy changes.
Bush has published a new book of immigrant paintings called “Of Many, One: Portraits of American Immigrants.” The former president said the book does not change policy, but added that his is a “small voice” among people trying to move towards change.