Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, during the network's coverage of late President George H.W. Bush on Wednesday, commented he was struck by the "chill" on the front row of Washington National Cathedral when President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump took their seats.
"You had seen a lot of chatty talk between the Clintons and the Obamas, the Carters," Wallace said, notes The Hill. "But when Donald Trump sat down, the greeting that he was given by Barack Obama and Michelle Obama was about as cool as it could have been.”
Former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter and their wives were already at the church and had been chatting among themselves for several minutes before the Trumps arrived and took their seats.
The Trumps greeted the Obamas, shaking hands with them when they sat next to them at Bush's funeral. However, there were not greetings exchanged between the Trumps and the Clintons, or the Carters.
Hillary Clinton, who fought a heated battle with Trump in the 2016 race, did not appear to turn to face Trump when he arrived, and her husband and Carter turned away while Trump and the Obamas shook hands.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.