Former President George W. Bush does not plan to endorse a presidential candidate, his office told NBC News on Saturday.
Asked whether the former president or his wife, Laura, would endorse the candidate or make public how they would vote, Bush’s office said no.
“President Bush retired from presidential politics years ago,” the office added.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokeswoman for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign declined to comment, but pointed to the campaign’s Republican outreach efforts.
Bush’s former vice president, Dick Cheney announced on Friday he will endorse Harris in the November election.
In his statement, Cheney said, “In the 248-year history of our nation, no person has posed a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump.” “He tried to steal the last election through lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters rejected him. He cannot be trusted with power again.”
A few days ago, the former vice president’s daughter, former Wyoming representative Liz Cheney, announced that she would vote for Harris. Both Cheneys, who are Republicans, have criticized former President Donald Trump, and the younger Cheney has been particularly outspoken.
In response to questions from reporters on Saturday, Harris said he was “proud” to receive the Cheneys’ endorsement, adding that it “affirms to them that we love our country and that we have more in common than what separates us.”
The fact that Bush’s party did not support its candidate is noteworthy. In 2012 Bush said he supported Republican candidate Mitt Romney against former President Barack Obama. Four years ago, Bush endorsed the now-deceased Senator John McCain for president In 2008.
Both former President Bush’s team He said in 2016 said that the father and son will avoid commenting on Trump. Instead, Bush Jr. tried to support Republican senators. Neither Bush nor his wife voted for any of the major party presidential candidates in 2016, a the spokesman said that year.
President Bush the Elder died in 2018, but President Jr. said in 2021 wrote in former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is running for president in 2020.
Several prominent moderate Republicans and former Trump administration officials have broken ties with the former president and endorsed Harris despite their policy differences.
The Harris campaign unveiled more last month two dozen Endorsements from Republicans, including former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld; former Virginia state representative Denver Riggleman; and former Trump administration press secretary Stephanie Grisham.
More later in August 200 former employees For both Presidents Bush, McCain and Romney signed a letter endorsing Harris’ presidential candidacy.
As part of the campaign’s outreach to GOP voters, the Harris campaign has hired a national Republican engagement director to focus on independent and moderate Republican voters, as well as the Republicans for Harris program.
Nnamdi Egwuonwu, Sarah Dean, Tara Prindiville and Monica Alba contributed.