President Donald Trump will be not be present at the late Barbara Bush's Saturday funeral service, the White House said Thursday, citing the desire to “avoid disruptions” and out of respect for her family and friends.
“First Lady Melania Trump will attend the memorial service for Barbara Bush this Saturday on behalf of the First Family. To avoid disruptions due to added security, and out of respect for the Bush Family and friends attending the service, President Trump will not attend,” the White House said in a statement.
President Trump offered his condolences to the Bush family Wednesday as he began remarks at a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Barbara Bush, Trump said, was a “wonderful, wonderful person” and “a titan in American life.”
Bush died Tuesday. She was 92.