--- title: George H.W. Bush Explains Why He Won't Be at Inauguration description: George H.W. Bush announced he will no longer be attending Donald Trump's inauguration, saying it's because of a doctor's recommendation canonical: https://time.com/4637887/george-hw-bush-donald-trump-inauguration-letter/ author: Sarah Begley article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-01-18T17:36:26.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-23T02:47:17.362Z article:section: Politics og:title: George H.W. Bush Explains Why He’s Not Attending Donald Trump’s Inauguration og:description: "My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it will likely put me six feet under" og:url: https://time.com/4637887/george-hw-bush-donald-trump-inauguration-letter/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfb2345bfe800af65/6988b5f197cdff4cca6af233/hw-bush.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: President George H.W. Bush Interviewed for "The Presidents' Gatekeepers" og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: George H.W. Bush Explains Why He’s Not Attending Donald Trump’s Inauguration twitter:description: "My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it will likely put me six feet under" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfb2345bfe800af65/6988b5f197cdff4cca6af233/hw-bush.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # George H.W. Bush Explains Why He’s Not Attending Donald Trump’s Inauguration > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. 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Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. by [Sarah Begley](https://time.com/author/sarah-begley/) ## Sarah Begley Jan 18, 2017 5:36 PM UTC  Former President George H.W. Bush is interviewed for 'The Presidents' Gatekeepers' project about the White House Chiefs of Staff at the Bush Library, October 24, 2011, in College Station, Texas. Former President George H.W. Bush is interviewed for 'The Presidents' Gatekeepers' project about the White House Chiefs of Staff at the Bush Library, October 24, 2011, in College Station, Texas. David Hume Kennerly—Getty Images by [Sarah Begley](https://time.com/author/sarah-begley/) ## Sarah Begley Jan 18, 2017 5:36 PM UTC [George H.W. Bush](http://time.com/4564428/donald-trump-george-hw-jeb-bush/) will not be attending [Donald Trump’s inauguration](http://time.com/money/4637694/trump-inauguration-costs-obama-bush-performers/), saying it’s because of a doctor’s recommendation. The [41st president of the United States](http://time.com/2854415/george-h-w-bush-turns-90/) wrote to the president-elect explaining why he will be absent. “Barbara and I are so sorry we can’t be there for our Inauguration on January 20th,” he wrote in the letter Jan. 10\. “My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it will likely put me six feet under. Same for Barbara. So I guess we’re stuck in Texas.” Bush has suffered from various health problems in recent years, and has been [hospitalized](http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/18/politics/george-h-w-bush-hospitalized/index.html) for “shortness of breath” since Saturday. “But we will be with you and the country in spirit,” he wrote to Trump in the letter. “I want you to know that I wish you the very best as you begin this incredible journey of leading out great country. If I can ever be of help, please let me know.” Bush’s spokesman [confirmed](https://twitter.com/jgm41/status/821756797920931841) the letter’s authenticity on Twitter. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4637887/george-hw-bush-donald-trump-inauguration-letter/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4637887/george-hw-bush-donald-trump-inauguration-letter/"},"headline":"George H.W. 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