George W. Bush said he congratulated President-elect Donald Trump for his victory Wednesday, a day after a spokesman confirmed the former president chose to not cast a ballot for president rather than vote for his party’s nominee.
“This morning I called President-elect Donald Trump and congratulated him on his election as President of the United States of America,” the statement read. “Laura and I wish the President-elect, Melania, and the entire Trump family all our very best as they take on an awesome responsibility and begin an exciting new chapter in their lives. We pray for the success of our country and the success of our new President.”
Leading up the election, neither George W. Bush nor fellow former President George H.W. Bush endorsed Trump. A spokesman for George H.W. Bush said in a separate email Tuesday that he would not comment on whom the elder Bush voted for in the race.
Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in Texas Tuesday night by 9.1 percentage points, the smallest margin of victory for a Republican candidate in two decades.
Read more of our election coverage:
- Here’s where Texas voters turned out and where they didn’t
- Here’s how Texas voted in every presidential election since 1976
- Donald Trump’s presidential victory was the stuff of Texas GOP dreams, and the state’s party leaders are moving quickly to capitalize on this once-in-a-century opportunity.
- As Texas Democrats pick up the pieces of the 2016 election, a single-digit margin in the presidential race here and a few legislative victories don’t offer much comfort.
Learn about The Texas Tribune’s policies, including our partnership with The Trust Project to increase transparency in news.
