The unexpectedness of these statements emphasizes concern the two have for both the Republican Party and the implications of Trump’s presidency for the nation. The Bushes fear Trump may bring about the dismantlement of the Republican Party because of his disregard for and departure from the Republican institution. Considering the substantial amount of time both Bushes spent in the White House cultivating a specific Republican legacy, they have a vested interest in defending what they worked to build.

Disapproval began in May 2016 when the elder Bush dismissed Trump as a “blowhard” who is led by ego rather than genuine interest in the nation’s well-being. Neither believed his outlandish and offensive approach as a Republican presidential candidate would get him far in the race.

To their dismay, Trump clinched the Republican nomination, and when election time came in November 2016, neither Bush voted for Trump. The elder voted for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton while the younger did not vote for either major party candidate.

George W. Bush gave a speech Oct. 19 in New York City in which he implicitly attacked Trump. Without naming the president, Bush professed his distaste for the recent emboldening of bigotry and expressed his fear that “politics seems more vulnerable to conspiracy theories and outright fabrication.”

The widespread disapproval of Trump within the Republican party is indicative of a transformation or perhaps a split within the party. In his Oct. 19 speech, the younger Bush attributed this to a departure from traditional Republican values and a shift to “casual cruelty” in policymaking.

This public disavowal of the Republican leader is not distinct to the Bushes. Several other notable Republican politicians, including Mitt Romney and Condoleezza Rice, chose not to support Trump in the presidential race and continue to speak out against some of his unfavorable actions as president.

Trump’s nontraditional and allegedly misdirected approach to Republican politics has pushed many Republican politicians to reject some of his policy proposals outright. For example, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has consistently voted against Trump’s attempts to repeal ObamaCare due to his belief that the proposed alternatives are inadequate. Republican dissent on major issues like health care is significant because it is often enough to halt the advancement of legislation and call for revised or entirely new proposals. With so many key figures within the Republican Party turning their backs on Trump, the efficacy of his administration is being critically tested.

Photo Courtesy of Fox News.

Christopher Steele, a former MI6 agent, made the report, originally paid for by an un-named wealthy Republican donor. After President Trump’s inauguration, Hillary Clinton’s campaign paid for the dossier.

Perkins Coie, a law firm based in Washington, D.C, released a letter Oct. 24, that stated they were paid by the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to continue researching Trump’s alleged ties to Russia.

The dossier has attracted the interest of the F.B.I as well as Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who met with Steele during the summer to discuss the dossier as well as to provide information on sources and the report’s redacted sections.

The revelation that the Clinton campaign and the DNC paid for the report raises questions on its legitimacy. Nevertheless, it contains serious and specific accusations concerning Trump’s ties to Russia. The research firm Fusion GPS, in collaboration with the Clinton campaign, funded additional research to create the Steele dossier. President Obama and a member of the Trump family were briefed on the dossier, adding to its credibility.

Republicans in both houses of Congress have attempted to discredit the report with Trump calling it “fake news.” The DNC denied that it paid for Fusion GPS to conduct research. This revelation damages its credibility and supports the idea that the report is a partisan accusation against Trump if it has not been entirely verified. The FBI as well as the intelligence community have verified various sections of the 35-page document.

The British are America’s allies unlike the Russians, and Steele was retired during the creation of the dossier. The scenario raised questions about collusion with a foreign government. The dossier includes information obtained from members of Russian intelligence inside the Kremlin. Nevertheless, there is no evidence that the DNC collaborated with Russia to fund or research the report.  

The truth behind the dossier may answer the question of the Trump campaign’s possible collusion with Russia to influence the U.S. election. U.S intelligence agencies will continue to investigate the matter, but the DNC’s actions with the dossier can be viewed as either necessary or chaotic depending on how the Trump-Russia investigation concludes.

“The reason I have a little doubt—just a little—is because he grew up and nobody knew him,” said Trump.

A later, very awkward interview on “The View” confirmed his views: Trump, among many others, questioned the validity of a Barack Obama presidency, despite the fact that Obama had already confirmed his citizenship by releasing his short form birth certificate, a standard that we don’t hold to other presidential candidates. Despite refusing to operate on any facts or logical reasoning, Trump continued to lambast the president. It was clear that Trump wasn’t just trying to be some kind of rouge devil’s advocate. Trump had something against Obama.

All cards on the table: I’ve loved the Barack Obama presidency. His cautious yet realistic foreign policy—one that keeps America active across the globe but strikes only when absolutely necessary—reminds me in some ways of Eisenhower. His celebration of American diversity and staunch patriotism, even when criticizing the country he leads, represent the same national values that I hold. And then there’s the man himself: charismatic, bold, intelligent, kind and highly-skilled at comedy. I’ve been proud to call him “my president” and I’ll miss doing so. I was hoping that, at the very least, the era of Obama politics would be extended by his endorsed successor, Secretary Hillary Clinton.

It wasn’t. In an election that blindsided me and so many others, Donald Trump beat an experienced and qualified politician that seemed to have the race all-but-won. My respect for him gone, the year-and-a-half leading up to Nov. 8 showed me that Trump represented everything Obama was not and everything I was against. He’s a bully who convinces others that nothing is true and everything is possible. He rarely, if ever, talks specifics. As I’ve written previously, he has no respect for or understanding of the US military, our country’s most powerful and sacred institution. He’s been accused of sexual assault and indicted for fraud and brags about it.

He’s disgusting and doesn’t deserve the Oval Office. For so many who share my view, they decided to express it through massive, nation-wide protests. Old slogans like “Love Trumps Hate” were shouted, but a new chant, forged by the outcome of the election, was made: “not my president.” That hashtag has also trended. While I share the protesters’ anger and lack of respect for Trump, I do not agree with their hallmark position. Though I say it through gritted teeth, Trump will be my president and, I hope, that he’ll be a good one.

Let’s go back to the Obama presidency. Since the beginning, there were people like Trump that questioned the legitimacy of his presidency. There were people calling him the Antichrist. There were constant threats, real and ridiculous, of impeachment, none of them with legal ground to stand on. There was outrage from Republicans and independents after each election and virtually no cooperation from opponents who worked tirelessly to thwart Obama at every turn. So many refused to call Barack Obama “my president,” and I wasn’t happy about it. Our long string of peaceful transitions of power, decided by the people show that, regardless of the outcome, our next president will be as legitimate as the previous. It would make no sense to root against someone tasked with leading you through a dangerous, unforgiving world.

And that’s why President Obama has shown nothing but respect since Nov. 8. It’s the way our country works, like it or not. We’re all in this together, even if some of us have different or even dangerous ideas about what it means. I’m not excited for a Trump presidency. I’m very, very concerned. If he follows through with his campaign promises, it’ll be a disaster. But I’m hoping, like the election, that my predictions will prove to be off. I’ll likely fight him every step of the way, but as I previously stated, I’ll call Donald Trump “my president,” just as I’ve done for all the others in my lifetime. For the country’s sake, you should, too.