Former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer on Thursday blasted President Donald Trump for "being rude" after he swiped at former President George H.W. Bush's "thousand points of light" volunteer effort at a speech in Montana.
"This is so uncalled for," Fleischer, who served in Bush 43's administration, said on Twitter. "Going after a 94-year-old, former president's promotion of volunteerism."
In a campaign-style rally to support Republican Montana Auditor Matt Rosendale in his battle to unseat two-term Democrat Jon Tester in November, Trump said: "We are putting America first.
"And by the way, you know all of the rhetoric: Thousands points of light.
"What the hell was that?" Trump asked. "What does that mean?
"I know one thing: 'Make America Great Again' we understand. 'Putting America First' we understand.
"'Thousand points of light?' I never got that one," Trump told the crowd in the Four Seasons Arena at Montana ExpoPark in Great Falls. "What the hell is that?
"Has anyone figured that out? It was put out by a Republican."
In his inaugural speech in January 1989, Bush said: "I have spoken of a thousand points of light, of all the community organizations that are spread like stars throughout the nation, doing good.
"We will work hand in hand, encouraging, sometimes leading, sometimes being led, rewarding. We will work on this in the White House, in the Cabinet agencies.
"I will go to the people and the programs that are the brighter points of light, and I will ask every member of my government to become involved," Bush said.
"The old ideas are new again because they are not old, they are timeless: duty, sacrifice, commitment, and a patriotism that finds its expression in taking part and pitching in."
Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush, who died in April at age 92, created the Points of Light Foundation for volunteerism in 1990.
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