Why are Michelle Obama and George W. Bush such good friends? Inside an unlikely bipartisan relationship built on hugs, songs and cough drops
- Last seen together at Joe Biden’s inauguration, the former White House residents are fast friends despite their political differences
- An unlikely embrace at Washington’s National Mall in 2016 was dubbed the ‘hug that went around the world’
It’s one of the most iconic and unlikely of friendships in the history of American politics.
Since 2009, former Republican president George W. Bush and former first lady Michelle Obama have amazingly hit it off, making their bond clear to the world in some surprisingly candid public moments.
In 2016, they had a sweet embrace that was impossible to fake. In 2018, Bush handed Obama cough drops on two different occasions – the first at the memorial service for late Senator John McCain, and the second at the funeral for his father, George H. W. Bush.
Here’ a look back at their friendship over the years in photos.
The friendship blossomed in 2009, at Barack Obama’s inauguration
It would be the first of countless events where former first lady Michelle Obama and former President George W. Bush sat near or next to each other.
It’s a relationship that’s been partly out of their hands since Obama and Bush are seatmates at official functions – which they attend a lot
