Trump to attend George H.W. Bush’s funeral, declares national day of mourning

President Trump on Saturday declared a national day of mourning for next week to honor former President George H.W. Bush and indicated that he would attend funeral services for the late president, who died on Friday at the age of 94.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement that a state funeral is being arranged with accompanying honors for Bush at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., saying Trump and first lady Melania Trump plan to attend.

Further details about the funeral arrangements have not yet been released.

“He was a wonderful man,” Trump told reporters on Saturday while traveling in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the Group of 20 summit. Trump said he spoke with Bush’s sons, former President George W. Bush and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, by phone earlier in the day.

“He was a very fine man. I met him on a number of occasions,” Trump added. “He was a terrific guy and he’ll be missed. He lived a full life and an exemplary life.”{mosads}

The president has designated Wednesday as a national day of mourning and issued a proclamation ordering all U.S. flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days to honor the former president.

Trump has clashed with members of the Bush family at various points in the past, including mocking Jeb Bush, his former 2016 GOP presidential rival, claiming he didn’t want to use his last name during the campaign.

George H.W. Bush also confirmed to author Mark K. Updegrove in his book “The Last Republicans” that he voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton over Trump in 2016, saying he considered Trump to be a “blowhard.”

Trump’s plans to attend the late president’s funeral come months after he was not invited to attend the funeral services for the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), which brought a host of dignitaries to the National Cathedral in early September.

During her eulogy at the funeral Meghan McCain took several swipes at Trump, who had repeatedly mocked her father and clashed with him during the Arizona GOP senator’s last couple of years in office.

Trump also did not attend the funeral services of former first lady Barbara Bush, who died in April. Melania Trump attended the funeral and was photographed with several former presidents and their wives, including Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and George W. Bush.

It is not uncommon for sitting presidents to miss the funeral of a former first lady. 

Trump issued a lengthy statement early Saturday remembering George H.W. Bush, praising his “authenticity, disarming wit, and unwavering commitment to faith, family, and country.”

The president said the elder Bush “always found a way to set the bar higher,” noting his time spent as the captain of the Yale baseball team before going on to become the Navy’s youngest aviator during World War II.

George H.W. Bush also served as a congressional representative, ambassador to China, CIA director, vice president and eventually president.

“With sound judgement, common sense, and unflappable leadership, President Bush guided our Nation, and the world, to a peaceful and victorious conclusion of the Cold War. As President, he set the stage for the decades of prosperity that have followed. And through all that he accomplished, he remained humble, following the quiet call to service that gave him a clear sense of direction,” Trump said.

The Obamas also honored Bush in a statement late Friday, calling him “a patriot and humble servant” with “a legacy of service that may never be matched, even though he’d want all of us to try.”

“George H.W. Bush’s life is a testament to the notion that public service is a noble, joyous calling. And he did tremendous good along the journey,” they said.

Updated: 1:45 p.m.