According to a political expert, something odd happened in the Twitter-verse Tuesday: A member of the Trump family endorsed a member of the Bush family. Donald Trump Jr. tweeted support for Land Commissioner George P. Bush’s re-election bid.
During the 2016 primary election, candidate Donald Trump and his Republican opponent, former Florida governor Jeb Bush, were bitter rivals. But after Trump secured the Republican presidential nomination, Jeb’s son George P. Bush supported Trump’s candidacy.
Now, the president's son Donald Trump Jr. tweeted on Tuesday: “In 2016, @GeorgePBush endorsed @realDonaldTrump and campaigned for him. His opponent, referring to primary opponent Jerry Patterson, attacked Trump and urged him to quit the race.” Trump said Bush was the "clear choice."
Elections are about choices. In 2016, @GeorgePBush endorsed @realDonaldTrump and campaigned for him. His opponent attacked Trump and urged him quit the race. Texas conservatives have a clear choice: Bush for Texas Land Commissioner.
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 6, 2018
Bush tweeted back his gratitude for the Trump endorsement.
Thank you @DonaldJTrumpJr —we’re working hard alongside @realDonaldTrump conservative agenda in Texas to #MakeAmericaGreatAgain https://t.co/lgYU7f0zlL
— George P. Bush (@georgepbush) February 6, 2018
Mark Jones with Rice University’s Baker Institute of Public Policy said the endorsement is certainly one of the odder things he’s seen during this primary election cycle.
“You know we’re in an alternative universe when a Bush is wholeheartedly being endorsed as the pro-Trump candidate,” Jones said.
Jones believes Trump's endorsement is more about helping Bush win his re-election bid than it is about Bush trying to become someone like Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who will actively campaign for President Trump's political causes.
Ryan Poppe can be reached at rpoppe@tpr.org or on Twitter @RyanPoppe1
