First Lady Melania Trump to attend Barbara Bush’s Texas funeral

New York Daily News, The (NY)

April 18--First Lady Melania Trump will be present to pay her respects at the funeral of former first lady Barbara Bush.

The service is scheduled for Saturday at St. Martin's Church in Houston, where former President George H.W. Bush and his wife retired following their stint in D.C. The burial ceremony will be closed off to members of the public, who will have the opportunity to honor Bush at the Texas church on Friday.

"Mrs. Trump plans to pay her respects at the funeral on Saturday," her communications director, Stephanie Grisham confirmed to CNN.

The former first lady and first mother, widely celebrated for her focus on education and literacy, passed away at the age of 92 on Tuesday. She'd been suffering from congestive heart failure and obstructive pulmonary disease.

Tributes from both side of the political aisle poured in following her passing, including one from the current First Lady.

"Throughout her life, she put family and country above all else," Trump said in statement. "Her dedicated service to the American people was matched only by her compassion and love of family.

"She was a woman of strength and we will always remember her for her most important roles of wife, mother and First Lady of the United States."

It's long been custom for first ladies to attend the funerals of those who came before, though it is less common for a president to do so.

The White House did not say whether President Trump will make the trek to Houston to honor the late Republican matriarch.

President Barack Obama in 2016 opted against attending the funeral for Nancy Reagan, though former First Lady Michelle Obama did show up in person to pay her respects.

Obama similarly did not attend Betty Ford's in 2011, according to USA Today.

Should President Trump decide to pay his respects in Texas, he'll be the first sitting president to do so since John F. Kennedy attended Eleanor Roosevelt's funeral in 1962.

The Republican President also honored Bush Tuesday night, remembering her as an "outstanding memorable woman of character" and lauding her "strong devotion to country and family."

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