PoliticsDonald TrumpTwitterGeorge W Bush

Trump Attacks Bush For Speaking Out On Sept. 11 Against Violent Extremists

The 45th president says the 43rd president “shouldn’t be lecturing anybody.”
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Senior Reporter, HuffPost

Donald Trump isn’t very happy about the speech George W. Bush made on Sept. 11 condemning violent extremism here and abroad.

In fact, he went ballistic against his fellow former president in a statement released Monday in which he said the 43rd president “shouldn’t be lecturing anybody.”

Although Bush did draw a parallel between foreign and domestic extremists in Saturday’s speech, he did not explicitly mention the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters or Trump himself.

Still, Trump took it as a personal attack. So he hit back hard, pointing out that Bush is responsible “for getting us into the quicksand of the Middle East (and then not winning!)”

Trump then attacked Bush for lecturing that “terrorists on the ‘right’ are a bigger problem than those from foreign countries that hate America, and that are pouring into our Country right now.”

He added:

“If that is so, why was he willing to spend trillions of dollars and be responsible for the death of perhaps millions of people? He shouldn’t be lecturing us about anything.”

In his screed, Trump pointed out that the World Trade Center “came down” when Bush was president and accused his fellow Republican of leading “a failed and uninspiring presidency.”

You can read the complete statement below:

Twitter uses weighed in on the snark session.

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Before You Go

September 11 Memorial Photos
Sept 11 Anniversary(01 of28)
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A New York City Honor Guard carries a flag found at ground zero during a memorial service commemorating the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Foley, Pool) (credit:AP)
Sept 11 Anniversary(02 of28)
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Two-year-old Luke Pavlenishzili, riding on the shoulders of his father George Pavlenishzili, offers a rose to New York firefighter Joe Huber, who was standing at the reflecting pool at ground zero during a memorial service commemorating the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Chang W. Lee, Pool) (credit:AP)
Sept 11 Anniversary(03 of28)
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Firefighters from Ladder Co. 10 and Engine Co. 10, which is directly across from the World Trade Center, pause for a moment of silence at 10:28 a.m., during ceremonies marking the ninth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) (credit:AP)
Sept 11 Anniversary(04 of28)
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A boy kneels in silence at the edge of a reflecting pool filled with flowers during a memorial service commemorating the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Chris Hondros, Pool) (credit:AP)
Sept 11 Anniversary(05 of28)
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An officer stands guard over a reflecting pool during a memorial service commemorating the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Don Emmert, Pool) (credit:AP)
Sept 11 Anniversary(06 of28)
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Family and friends of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center take part in a memorial service commemorating the ninth anniversary of the attacks Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Don Emmert, Pool) (credit:AP)
Sept 11 Anniversary(07 of28)
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An honor guard plays trumpet at the World Trade Center site during a memorial service commemorating the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Chang W. Lee, Pool) (credit:AP)
Sept 11 Anniversary(08 of28)
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Mourners gather around a reflecting pool filled with flowers and photos at the site where the twin towers once stood during a memorial service commemorating the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/John Angelillo, Pool) (credit:AP)
Sept 11 Anniversary(09 of28)
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A mural commemorating the 9/11 attacks decorates the side of a building as a firefighter passes near Ground Zero in New York, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:AP)
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Flowers, photos and messages are left at a reflecting pool in ground zero during a memorial service commemorating the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Andrew Mills, Pool) (credit:AP)
Sept 11 Anniversary(11 of28)
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Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani reads a poem during a memorial service commemorating the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Foley, Pool) (credit:AP)
Sept 11 Anniversary(12 of28)
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Family members of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center observe a moment of silence during a memorial service commemorating the ninth anniversary of the attacks Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Chang W. Lee, Pool) (credit:AP)
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A firefighter salutes as taps is played, before a moment of silence for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, during a commemoration ceremony at Zuccotti Park, adjacent to ground zero, on the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) (credit:AP)
Sept 11 Anniversary(14 of28)
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Friends and relatives of the victims of the 9/11 attacks gather for a commemoration ceremony at Zuccotti Park, adjacent to ground zero, on the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) (credit:AP)
Sept 11 Anniversary(15 of28)
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A firefighter's photo is held up in the crowd at Zuccotti Park near the World Trade Center in New York during ceremonies marking the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams, Pool) (credit:AP)
Sept 11 Anniversary(16 of28)
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Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano places a flower in a reflecting pool where the twin towers once stood during a memorial service commemorating the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/John Angelillo, Pool) (credit:AP)
Sept 11 Anniversary(17 of28)
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A mourner wipes a tear from her eye during a memorial service commemorating the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/David Handschuh, Pool) (credit:AP)
Sept 11 Anniversary(18 of28)
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A vendor dressed as Uncle Sam hawks American flags during New York's September 11th Commemoration Ceremony, adjacent to the site of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010, on the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin) (credit:AP)
Obama Sept. 11(19 of28)
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President Barack Obama, flanked by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, right, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen, stand for the national anthem during a ceremony of remembrance at the Pentagon to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
Obama Sept. 11(20 of28)
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President Barack Obama, accompanied by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, right, Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, left, and others, arrives for a ceremony of remembrance at the Pentagon to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
Obama Sept. 11(21 of28)
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President Barack Obama and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen pause for a moment of silence during a ceremony of remembrance at the Pentagon to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
Obama Sept. 11(22 of28)
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President Barack Obama attends a ceremony of remembrance at the Pentagon to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. He is joined by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, right. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
Pentagon Sept. 11(23 of28)
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A woman places flowers at one of the memorial benches honoring the 184 victims of the of September 11, 2001 terror attack on the Pentagon, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
Sept 11 Anniversary(24 of28)
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First lady Michelle Obama, center, speaks during a commemorative service at the temporary Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville, Pa., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. From left are, Joanne M. Hanley, superintendent of the Flight 93 National Memorial., former first lady Laura Bush, Mrs. Obama, Gordon W. Felt, president of the Families of Flight 93, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (credit:AP)
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From left, Gordon W. Felt, president of the Families of Flight 93, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar listen as first lady Michelle Obama speaks during a commemorative service at the temporary Flight 93 temporary memorial in Shanksville, Pa., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (credit:AP)
Sept 11 Anniversary(26 of28)
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Visitors look out over the crash site of United Flight 93 at the temporary Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville, Pa., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (credit:AP)
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Flags frame the crash site of United Flight 93 at the temporary Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville, Pa., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (credit:AP)
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Former first lady Laura Bush, right, makes her remarks as first lady Michelle Obama listens during a commemorative service at the temporary Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville, Pa., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (credit:AP)
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