He refused to comment.
Former President George W. Bush has decided not to endorse any candidate in the upcoming presidential election, according to a statement from his office on Saturday. When questioned about whether Bush or his wife, Laura, would publicly support a candidate or reveal their voting choices, his office confirmed there would be no endorsement. The statement emphasized that Bush has long retired from active political endorsements.
The Trump campaign has yet to respond to this news, and Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign has not commented directly but highlighted its efforts to engage with Republicans. Recently, Dick Cheney, Bush’s former vice president, declared his support for Harris, criticizing Donald Trump as a significant threat to the nation’s democracy.
Liz Cheney, Dick Cheney’s daughter and a former Representative from Wyoming, also announced her support for Harris earlier. Both Cheneys, who are Republicans, have voiced strong opposition to Trump, with Liz Cheney being particularly vocal. Harris responded to the Cheneys’ endorsements by expressing her honor and noting that their support reflects a shared commitment to the country’s values.
Bush’s decision to refrain from endorsing a candidate is notable given his past endorsements of Republican nominees. In 2012, he supported Mitt Romney, and in 2008, he endorsed the late Senator John McCain. However, in 2016, both Bush presidents chose not to comment on Trump, and neither Bush nor his wife voted for a major party candidate that year. George W. Bush later mentioned writing in Condoleezza Rice’s name in the 2020 election.
The Harris campaign has received support from various prominent moderate Republicans and former Trump administration officials despite differing policy views. Last month, over two dozen Republicans, including former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld and former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham, endorsed Harris. Additionally, more than 200 former staffers from both Bush presidencies, McCain, and Romney have publicly supported Harris, indicating a significant faction of Republicans are breaking with Trump. To bolster this outreach, the Harris campaign has hired a national Republican engagement director and launched a “Republicans for Harris” program.
