Stephen Colbert translates the 'anti-Trump' elements of George HW Bush's funeral
The late-night host believes some elements of the eulogies constituted thinly veiled jabs at Trump
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Your support makes all the difference.George HW Bush's state funeral was a solemn, dignified affair – and, if Stephen Colbert is to be believed, a bit of an anti-Trump moment.
The late-night host gave his take on Wednesday's ceremony on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
He reflected on the seating arrangement at the front row, where Barack and Michelle Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton were seated next to Donald and Melania Trump.
"It was quite a moving sight to see the presidents and the first ladies in the front row, waiting to honour President Bush, chatting comfortably with one another – until Trump showed up," Colbert said. "Then it became silent staring time."
He added: "Donald Trump is the only person in the world who can bring down a funeral."
Colbert also pointed out that Trump appeared to be the "odd person out" during the reading of the Apostles' Creed.
Both Obamas and both Clintons recited the text, reading partly from their printed programmes. Both Trumps, however, kept their hands crossed in front of their bodies and didn't appear to say anything.
The late-night host launched into an imitation of the president, saying in a Trump-like voice: "I was thinking about all the Evangelicals who voted for me. What are we doing, the Macarena? I'm in."
He also delivered a quip about the choir "drowning out the sounds of other ex-presidents rolling in their graves".
Colbert then reflected on out-takes from the eulogies delivered to honour Bush's memory.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney said of the former commander-in-chief that “every single head of government in the world knew that they were dealing with a gentleman, a genuine leader, one who was distinguished, resolute and brave".
Biographer Jon Meacham in reference to Bush: "If you were down, he would rush to lift you up. And if you were soaring, he would rush to savour your success."
He also quoted the president's "life code", which included the principles "Tell the Truth" and "Don't blame people."
An excerpt from CNN's news coverage played next, with chief political analyst Gloria Borger saying of the remarks: "It sounds anti-Trump, but it isn't necessarily."
"Nah, it kinda is," Colbert said.
"As soon as you start praising someone's honestly, you're automatically throwing shade at Donald Trump. I mean, Obama made Trump seem like a bad president just by sitting next to him."
The TV host also lampooned Trump for taking "the motorcade to travel 250 yards" from the White House to Blair House, where he greeted the Bush family.
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