“Are You Gonna Behave?” – X Is Loving The Clip Of Former President Obama Joking Around With George Bush Ahead Of Trump Inauguration

Mary Claire Crabtree·
CULTURE
·
Bush and Obama
CSPAN

All for the lighthearted jokes on a serious day.

The 47th President, Donald J. Trump, and his Vice President, J.D. Vance, have been officially sworn into office. Today, the nation’s leaders gathered in the United States Capitol Rotunda to witness Trump take his Oath of Office. While the inauguration is a very serious event, that does not mean those in attendance can’t joke around a little before the official start.

Many former presidents and their wives attend the inauguration every four years. It’s always nice to see former leaders interact with each other and share kind words, as they all know the excitement and nerves that come with this day.

Ahead of entering the rotunda, a Washington Post correspondent shared a video of former President Obama and Bush joking with each other. As they lined up for their entrance, a Washington staffer asked Bush, jokingly, if he was going to behave. Obama, who was right behind George Bush in line, answered for him sarcastically, saying. “Nope.”

There were a few chuckles from those around as Obama gave this answer on Bush’s behalf.

And then when they took their seats, it looked like they were cracking jokes with each other:

While some social media users were shocked to see this lighthearted behavior from former presidents representing opposite parties, the Obamas and Bush family are friends. George Bush and Michelle Obama specifically fostered a friendship that made waves when the two were spotted exchanging candy during former President George H.W. Bush’s funeral.

However, the two had become friends before that viral moment in 2018 at H.W. Buch’s funeral. In 2017, G.W. Bush noted that they “just took to each other.”

“Michelle likes my sense of humor, I guess, and anyone who likes my sense of humor I immediately like. I needle her a little bit, and we just took to each other.

The friendship extends beyond Michelle, though. Bush and Obama have been friendly and have been spotted publicly joking around with each other. And since then, the families have publicly displayed their friendship in many settings. They were also spotted being friendly at Jimmy Carter’s funeral when George W gave Barack a little bro slap to the mid-section.

For most, this now viral moment is just another example of the families being comfortable around each other and highlights their lighthearted comradery.

Given that the political climate was tense for some (yet joyful for others) after the 47th President was sworn in, this display of two former presidents representing the other parties shows that there can be unity despite opposing political views.

Check out some of the responses to the viral moment.

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