Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has never hidden his dislike for the presumptive 2016 Republican nominee Donald Trump. The two clashed a number of times throughout the campaign and even spared a bit after Bush left the race after losing in South Carolina.
Friday he congratulated Trump for being the last GOP man standing and at the same time made it crystal clear that no one with the last name of Bush would be voting for the New York billionaire in November. Meanwhile, Trump was not surprised that the Bush family were not backing him.
“The American Presidency is an office that goes beyond just politics. It requires of its occupant great fortitude and humility and the temperament and strong character to deal with the unexpected challenges that will inevitably impact our nation in the next four years,” Bush said in a Facebook post.
“Donald Trump has not demonstrated that temperament or strength of character,” he continued. “He has not displayed a respect for the Constitution. And, he is not a consistent conservative. These are all reasons why I cannot support his candidacy.” the Facebook post ended.
Bush is also on the record that will not be voting for the presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and that he along with former presidents George W. as well their father George H.W. Bush would be sitting the 2016 presidential election out.
Mitt Romney, who lost to Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential contest also joined the Bush family in saying that he along with a growing number of conservatives can see possible way that they can or will support Trump.
Romney, has been many times been considered as a possible 3rd party candidate going up against Trump and Clinton but he has ruled the possibility out. He did meet with GOP 3rd party backers in Washington on Thursday but he made it clear while he might be open to helping mount a challenge to Trump and Clinton, but he would not be on any ticket.
Jeb Bush has also been a name that has come up as a 3rd party nominee but he quickly took his name out of the running.