First Lady Melania Trump made a rare public appearance at the unveiling of a stamp honoring of former first lady Barbara Bush on May 8.
“I applaud Mrs. Bush’s mark defending our society’s vital need for women across all avenues, whether CEO or homemaker,” Trump said.
The stamp features a detail from Bush’s official White House portrait and will have a dedication ceremony in Kennebunkport, Maine on June 10, the U.S. Postal Service said in a press release following the ceremony.
“Life did not harden her,” said Judy de Torok, USPS vice president of corporate affairs. “They reveal what truly matters: family, compassion and service. Through those lessons became a national example of strength, humility and grace.”
Trump nodded to the 35-year anniversary of Bush’s commencement address at Wellesley College, quoting her call for a female president.
“Who knows, somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow in my footsteps and preside over the White House and I wish him well,” Trump quoted from the speech referring to a potential first gentleman.
It was the second appearance in the White House by Trump for the day, having joined her husband, for a ceremony honoring military mothers.
Stamp reveals rare moment between Bush and Trump families
The stamp unveiling appeared to be at least a momentary detente between the families that have helmed the Republican party.
Trump was preceded on stage by Dorothy Bush Koch, the late first lady’s daughter, though former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush did not appear. President Donald Trump did not attend the event.
“It’s unlikely that mom ever pictured herself on a postage stamp and is very likely she would be wondering what all this fuss was about today,” Bush said. “I can assure you that we are all very proud and grateful for this special tribute.”
The Trump-Bush family relationship has at times been rocky, featuring public swipes at one another and a concerted distancing from Trump by the Bushes. The late first lady reportedly made negative comments about Trump, calling him a “symbol of greed,” as reported by USA TODAY’s Susan Page in her 2019 biography of the Republican matriarch.
The former first lady died in April 2018, followed by her husband, former President George H.W. Bush, seven months later, in November.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Melania Trump makes rare appearance to unveil Barbara Bush stamp
