Former President George W. Bush (R) is weighing in on the Republican Party of “today.”
Asked how he would describe the Republican Party as he sees it “today,” Bush said during Tuesday’s “Today” show interview, “I would describe it as isolationist, protectionist, and to a certain extent, nativist.”
When asked if he is “disappointed,” Bush replied, “Well, it’s not exactly my vision.”
NBC News’s Hoda Kotb then questioned the former president with a hypothetical 2024 candidate who is “pro-immigration, pro-path to citizenship for undocumented workers, pro-DACA, pro-reasonable gun control, pro-education funding for schools” and if that Republican has a chance of winning the party’s nomination.
“Sure,” Bush responded, adding, “It depends upon the emphasis, if the emphasis is integrity and decency and trying to work to get problems solved, I think the person has a shot.”
He added that “pro-immigration” is not “the right way to put it,” but rather “border enforcement with a compassionate touch.”
See Bush’s comments below:
How would you describe the Republican Party today? –@hodakotb
I would describe it as isolationist, protectionist, and to a certain extent, nativist. -Former President George W. Bush pic.twitter.com/tyFl2LnRMP
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 20, 2021
Additionally, Kotb noted that Bush has “made it a point” not to criticize his predecessors.
Asked if he has been tempted to do so, Bush said it would be more of a question if he has ever been tempted to defend himself, to which he said, “No,” before adding, “Yeah, I guess I have been. Sure.”
Watch his interview below:
Watch @hodakotb’s full interview with former President George W. Bush on immigration, his friendship with former first lady Michelle Obama, the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol, and his new book, “Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants.” pic.twitter.com/DiktIhhKTo
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 20, 2021
President Joe Biden previously indicated that he has spoken to all of his predecessors, except one — alluding to former President Donald Trump.
Since leaving office, Trump has criticized Biden’s administration including on immigration.
