The friendship between former First Lady Michelle Obama and former President George W. Bush was once again in the spotlight at the inauguration of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. Ahead of the ceremony, Bush gave Obama a tin of Altoids, harking back to a moment during Senator John McCain’s funeral in 2018 when Bush discreetly passed Obama a cough drop.
Obama remarked on the close bond they share during a “Today” show appearance, highlighting how protocol often seats them together at formal events. She described Bush as her “partner in crime” at gatherings of former leaders. Obama expressed her affection, calling Bush “a wonderful man” and “a funny man,” adding, “I love him to death.”
In a heartfelt interview with his daughter, Jenna Bush Hager, Bush clarified that what he handed Obama at McCain’s funeral was an Altoid. Regardless of whether it was a cough drop or a mint, the gesture carried significant meaning. Bush noted, “It turns out the country is starved to see a White center-right Republican and an African American center-left Democrat having fun and being able to converse, not as political figures, but as citizens.”
This gift on Thursday was well-received, with Obama seen smiling and holding up the tin in a photo alongside Bush. The event also saw other notable attendees, including Bush’s wife, former First Lady Laura Bush, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Joe and Jill Biden, seated with the Obamas on stage.
The Obama Presidential Center’s opening coincided with Juneteenth, marking an emotional moment for many present.
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