Barbara Bush, the former First Lady of the United States and wife of President George H.W. Bush, was not known for mincing words, and on February 4, 2016, during an interview with CBS, she once again demonstrated her frankness. In a time when her son Jeb Bush was running for the Republican nomination for President, Barbara Bush openly criticized Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner. In a striking moment, she expressed disbelief about Trump’s rhetoric, especially regarding his treatment of women.
Barbara Bush’s Criticism of Trump’s Treatment of Women
In the interview with CBS, Barbara Bush and Jeb Bush sat down with Norah O’Donnell to discuss Jeb’s campaign. Though her support for her son was clear, Barbara Bush didn’t hold back when asked about Donald Trump’s behavior during the race.
When O’Donnell brought up Trump’s comments about women, particularly Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, Barbara responded candidly: “I mean, unbelievable. I don’t know how women can vote for someone who said what he said about Megyn Kelly. And we knew what he meant too!” She was referring to the infamous 2015 GOP debate when Trump made derogatory comments about Kelly, implying she was behaving irrationally because of her menstruation.
This comment was one of many made by Trump that raised eyebrows during the 2016 election cycle, but it was particularly offensive to women. Barbara Bush, as a seasoned political figure and strong advocate for women, clearly found it appalling. Her frankness during this televised interview set her apart from many within her party who remained silent on Trump’s behavior. She called it as she saw it, unwilling to play along with the political game that allowed Trump to rise unscathed by his inflammatory remarks.
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Barbara Bush’s criticism came at a time when many Republicans, including her own son Jeb, were reluctant to speak out too harshly against Trump. Jeb Bush, who was trailing in the Republican primaries, frequently clashed with Trump but often lacked the sharpness and directness of his mother’s critique. Barbara, however, wasn’t afraid to go on national television and call out Trump’s behavior for what it was: disrespectful and offensive.
Just a reminder of the insults he threw at Megyn Kelly:
Barbara Bush’s Wider Critique of Trump
Barbara Bush’s dissatisfaction with Trump was not limited to this single instance. In fact, her disapproval of Trump was well-documented throughout the 2016 campaign and beyond. In another revealing interview, she shared her disbelief at Trump’s popularity, particularly given his divisive rhetoric. Speaking in 2016, Barbara Bush said:
“I don’t understand why people are for him. … I’m a woman. I’m not crazy about what he says about women.”
This quote, sourced from an article by KXXV, encapsulates Barbara Bush’s bewilderment at how Trump’s candidacy was resonating with such a large portion of the electorate. For her, Trump’s words and actions, particularly his treatment of women, were fundamentally at odds with the values she had seen and championed throughout her time in politics.
It’s worth noting that Barbara Bush’s views were not necessarily in line with the Republican establishment at the time. Many party leaders either avoided criticizing Trump or offered lukewarm objections. Barbara’s willingness to speak out so forcefully stood in stark contrast to this reticence. She didn’t shy away from saying what so many others were thinking but afraid to say: Trump’s rhetoric was unacceptable, especially for someone vying for the highest office in the land.
It should be noted that her son and former President George W. Bush recently stated he will not be endorsing anyone for President in the 2024 election while Dark Sith Lord Dick Cheney is actually endorsing Harris; as we wrote here:
Former President George W. Bush is sitting out the 2024 presidential race, opting not to endorse either candidate, a move that’s shining a spotlight on the growing rift within the Republican Party. Bush, who once backed GOP stalwarts like Mitt Romney and John McCain, has officially bowed out of presidential politics, leaving the party in a moment of uncertainty and division. His silence highlights the widening gap between traditional Republicans and those still loyal to Donald Trump.
Bush’s former Vice President, Dick Cheney, didn’t hold back. On Friday, Cheney publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, calling Trump “a greater threat to our republic” than anyone in U.S. history. His daughter, former Rep. Liz Cheney, echoed her father’s sentiment, confirming she’ll vote for Harris in November. The Cheney’s’ endorsements represent a seismic shift in the GOP, with some moderates viewing Trump as too dangerous to return to power.
Trump’s Response to Barbara Bush
As with many of his critics, Donald Trump did not let Barbara Bush’s comments go unanswered. In typical Trump fashion, he responded directly to her criticisms with a mix of deflection and bravado. Speaking to CBS News, Trump acknowledged Barbara Bush’s remarks but appeared unfazed by them:
“Look, she’s the mother of somebody that I knocked out of the race. And, I don’t know, she just seems like a very nice woman.”
Trump’s response, however, didn’t stop at niceties. He added that he understood why Barbara would attack him:
“When somebody attacks me, like Jeb, who is one of the worst candidates ever, I let them have it back. And then his mother gets involved. I get it, look what I did to her sons.”
This quote encapsulates Trump’s usual style of handling criticism—minimizing the substance of the attack and focusing instead on his ability to take down his opponents. In this case, he positioned Barbara Bush’s critique as stemming from her loyalty to her son Jeb, whom Trump had frequently belittled throughout the campaign.
What’s striking about Trump’s response is that it ignored the broader points Barbara was making about his treatment of women and the tone of his rhetoric. Instead, Trump pivoted the conversation back to the campaign, viewing the personal attacks as just another aspect of political warfare. It was a telling moment that demonstrated the difference in approach between Trump and the Bush family—while Barbara focused on the morality and values she believed should guide politics, Trump treated it as a game of domination and personal attacks.
A Stark Contrast to George W. Bush
Barbara Bush’s willingness to openly criticize Donald Trump is especially notable when compared to her son, George W. Bush, who remained largely silent on Trump during the 2016 campaign. Though George W. Bush reportedly harbored his own concerns about Trump’s rise within the Republican Party, he refrained from publicly speaking out with the same force as his mother.
This difference in approach speaks to the unique character of Barbara Bush. While her son, the former president, may have felt constrained by party loyalty or a desire to avoid controversy, Barbara had no such qualms. She was forthright, unafraid to speak her mind even if it meant going against the grain of her own party. Her critique of Trump was rooted in a deep sense of personal values—values she felt were being undermined by Trump’s behavior and rhetoric.
A Woman Of Integrity
Barbara Bush’s criticism of Donald Trump was not just a momentary outburst—it was a reflection of her lifelong commitment to integrity, respect, and decency in politics. Unlike many of her contemporaries in the Republican Party, Barbara wasn’t afraid to speak truth to power, even when that power came from within her own party. Her remarks on Trump’s treatment of women, and her overall disapproval of his behavior, set her apart as a figure of moral clarity during a time of intense political upheaval.
In an era where many politicians and public figures hesitated to call out Trump’s actions, Barbara Bush had the guts to do it. She may have been the mother of two presidents, but in this moment, she stood on her own as a voice of conscience in American politics.
Featured image via screengrab
