BBC Online :
Former US presidents George H W Bush and George W Bush will not endorse Donald Trump’s candidacy for president, aides have told local media.
This marks a first for the 91-year-old former president Bush, who had endorsed Republicans in the past five elections. Republican politicians are struggling to define their support, or lack thereof, for Donald Trump.
Mr Trump’s remaining opponents dropped out earlier this week leaving him as the presumptive Republican nominee.
Both Bush men had previously campaigned this year for former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who exited the race in February. They had each supported past Republican presidential nominees John McCain in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012. Although neither former president has openly attacked Mr Trump or his policy proposals, George W Bush made a veiled criticism at a campaign event for his younger brother saying, “The strongest person usually isn’t the loudest one in the room”.
“I understand that Americans are angry and frustrated. But we do not need someone in the Oval Office who mirrors and inflames our anger and frustration,” George W Bush told the
South Carolina audience.
Many Republican candidates for lower offices are concerned about running on the same ballot as Donald Trump, who has alienated minority voters through his rhetoric about building a wall with Mexico and banning US entry to Muslim travellers.
Many American choose to vote for either the Democrat or Republican Party, rather than weighing the individual candidates. Republican representatives fear that voters who oppose Trump may eschew the Republican Party all together.
John McCain, who is running for his sixth term as senator for the state of Arizona, privately told donors that he will face a tough re-election campaign sharing a ballot with Trump.
“If Donald Trump is at the top of the ticket, here in Arizona, with over 30 percent of the vote being the Hispanic vote, no doubt that this may be the race of my life,” the former candidate said according to audio obtained by Politico on Thursday.
Former US presidents George H W Bush and George W Bush will not endorse Donald Trump’s candidacy for president, aides have told local media.
This marks a first for the 91-year-old former president Bush, who had endorsed Republicans in the past five elections. Republican politicians are struggling to define their support, or lack thereof, for Donald Trump.
Mr Trump’s remaining opponents dropped out earlier this week leaving him as the presumptive Republican nominee.
Both Bush men had previously campaigned this year for former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who exited the race in February. They had each supported past Republican presidential nominees John McCain in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012. Although neither former president has openly attacked Mr Trump or his policy proposals, George W Bush made a veiled criticism at a campaign event for his younger brother saying, “The strongest person usually isn’t the loudest one in the room”.
“I understand that Americans are angry and frustrated. But we do not need someone in the Oval Office who mirrors and inflames our anger and frustration,” George W Bush told the
South Carolina audience.
Many Republican candidates for lower offices are concerned about running on the same ballot as Donald Trump, who has alienated minority voters through his rhetoric about building a wall with Mexico and banning US entry to Muslim travellers.
Many American choose to vote for either the Democrat or Republican Party, rather than weighing the individual candidates. Republican representatives fear that voters who oppose Trump may eschew the Republican Party all together.
John McCain, who is running for his sixth term as senator for the state of Arizona, privately told donors that he will face a tough re-election campaign sharing a ballot with Trump.
“If Donald Trump is at the top of the ticket, here in Arizona, with over 30 percent of the vote being the Hispanic vote, no doubt that this may be the race of my life,” the former candidate said according to audio obtained by Politico on Thursday.
