Former President George W. Bush published a Presidents Day essay about George Washington that appeared to take subtle aim at President Donald Trump, praising the nation’s first leader for qualities notably absent in the current administration.
Bush released the essay on Monday through More Perfect, a bipartisan organization focused on American democracy. The piece was published on Substack as part of a new history project called In Pursuit, marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in July, 2026.
While Bush’s essay never mentioned Trump by name, his focus on Washington’s willingness to relinquish power carried contemporary relevance. “Our first president could have remained all-powerful, but twice he chose not to,” Bush wrote. “In so doing, he set a standard for all presidents to live up to.”
The essay highlighted Washington’s decision to step down after two presidential terms and his earlier choice to relinquish command of the Continental Army following the American Revolution.
Bush praised Washington’s self-control, courteousness, modesty and diplomacy. The former president wrote that Washington studied the Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior, which contained 110 maxims about proper conduct.
Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, where his character and reputation for integrity proved essential to building consensus. Bush emphasized that Washington could be entrusted with power precisely because everyone knew he would not abuse it.
The essay devoted significant focus to Washington’s sense of humility. Bush noted that Washington exemplified putting the nation’s interests ahead of personal ambition or gain. He also observed that Washington carried himself with calm dignity and discipline, respecting the office while preventing it from becoming endowed with exaggerated authority.
Bush is not giving interviews about the essay, according to reports. The piece speaks for itself as a statement about presidential conduct and the constitutional principles underlying American democracy.
Colleen Shogan, who was fired by Trump in February, 2025, now oversees the In Pursuit project. Shogan previously served as National Archivist before her abrupt dismissal by the current administration.
Speaking about the project’s goals, Shogan said the “lesson of presidential humility transcends time.” The initiative aims to make American history relevant as the nation approaches its semiquicentennial celebration.
The In Pursuit series will feature contributions from other prominent figures. Former President Barack Obama will write about Abraham Lincoln, while former President Bill Clinton will focus on Theodore Roosevelt. Chief Justice John Roberts will contribute an essay about William Howard Taft.
Fox News host Bret Baier will write about Dwight Eisenhower for the project. However, neither President Trump nor former President Joe Biden are participating in the series.
The last time Bush and Trump appeared together publicly was at Jimmy Carter’s funeral in January, 2025, where they sat near each other. The atmosphere between the two presidents has remained distant, with Bush maintaining the traditional code of silence that typically prevents former presidents from directly criticizing their successors.
Trump attempted to overturn his 2020 election loss and is now threatening to run for an illegal third presidential term, violating constitutional term limits.
Washington’s study of civility maxims reflected his commitment to self-improvement and proper conduct. The Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior guided everything from courtesy in conversation to respect for others in public settings. Bush wrote that Washington’s actions “ensured America wouldn’t become a monarchy, or worse.”
The More Perfect organization’s mission centers on protecting democratic institutions and renewing civic engagement as the nation marks 250 years since declaring independence. The In Pursuit project represents part of that broader effort to connect Americans with foundational principles and historical examples of leadership.
Presidents’ Day is a federal holiday originally established to honor Washington’s birthday. The observance has evolved to recognize all American presidents, though Washington and Abraham Lincoln remain the most closely associated with the holiday.