Donald Trump Didn’t Say the Christian Prayer at George H.W. Bush’s Funeral

The president being credited for making it okay to say “Merry Christmas” again is now being ridiculed as the only living president to not recite the Apostle’s Creed at George H.W. Bush‘s funeral.

Even more ironic? President Obama, whom Trump has long (and falsely) suggested is Muslim, had no problem reciting the famous Christian prayer.

Video from the funeral of George H.W. Bush showed a front row of presidents at Washington National Cathedral, standing and reciting it along with the program, as the voice of Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry boomed through the speakers to the thousands of mourners. Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and their wives glanced up and down from the programs they held in front of them and spoke the prayer, along with everyone else visible in the video. The program, as is typical, calls for the prayer to be said in unison.

President Trump stood, with his hands folded in front of him, waist-high, the program in his left hand, his lips not moving. Melania Trump also did not speak, nor did she hold a program.

Even if he didn’t know it, it was printed in a booklet right in front of him. (Maybe Samantha Bee was right.) At the very least, if he didn’t feel like saying it, he could have just looked at it.

Instead, the one time he was supposed to say something, he chose to remain silent. If only that applied on Twitter…

Some responsive tweeters have pointed out that not all denominations recite the Creed. That may be the case, but there’s really nothing in it that most Christians don’t affirm already. Even beyond that, if you are a Christian at a funeral, it’s really just a case of basic decency and a way to honor the dead.

Let’s be clear: This is hardly the biggest Trump “scandal” this week. It’s low on the list of things anyone should actually be upset about. But take a moment to consider what the Christian Right would be saying if Obama acted then how Trump is acting now. The hypocrisy is very, very real.