Last night, President Donald Trump held a raucous rally in Montana, where he attacked senators, media, and sexual assault survivors.
But he also took a moment to—oddly—go after former President George H.W. Bush’s call for volunteerism in 1989.
In Montana, Trump takes a strange swipe at @GeorgeHWBush: “Thousand points of light. 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 quite got that one. What the hell is that?”
— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) July 6, 2018
That was too much for Ari Fleischer, press secretary under George W. Bush, who was flabbergasted that Trump would attack a senior citizen.
This is so uncalled for. Going after a 94-year-old, former President’s promotion of volunteerism. I don’t mind potus being a fighter. I do mind him being rude. https://t.co/Hr0d20Wuzz
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) July 6, 2018
Fleischer—who has not taken a hardline stance against the current president on a number of issues—was ripped online for this being his breaking point with Trump.
https://twitter.com/gabrielroth/status/1015043004300779520
It wasn’t the insults towards a senator with a brain tumor, a handicapped reporter, black women, Mexicans, all Democrats, the G7, glad to see that Ari Fleischer actually has a limit. https://t.co/UCm73VElxo
— Elizabeth West (@Limeylizzie) July 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/JBWolfsthal/status/1015043971612016641
https://twitter.com/RichelleCarey/status/1015073804387848192
https://twitter.com/AClaudeCase/status/1015119111897145345
Stealing children okay, but don’t come for Poppy. #GOP https://t.co/ewHzv5YcwO
— Tom Watson (@tomwatson) July 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/kitkat9301/status/1015239870183194624
Oh, so this was the bridge too far. https://t.co/gU60CQzcXG
— Maggie Serota (@maggieserota) July 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/sabres_edge/status/1015088647845044224
https://twitter.com/reedgalen/status/1015186738174517253
Seriously though. Of all the things to declare “uncalled for,” this was a curious decision.