As former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush intensifies his criticism of Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, the New York businessman is hitting back where it hurts.
In an edited video shared on his Instagram account Monday, Trump reproduced Barbara Bush’s initial reaction to the idea of a Jeb Bush presidential candidacy. The former first lady told NBC News in 2013 that she hoped her son wouldn’t jump into the presidential race in 2016.
Trump’s campaign posted a clip of the Bush family matriarch responding “No, I really don’t” when asked during the NBC interview if she’d like to see Jeb run. The Trump camp captioned it “Even Barbara Bush agrees with me.”
The 15-second video continues with the wife of former President George H.W. Bush explaining why she opposes a Bush dynasty while pictures and footage of Trump on the campaign trail appear during her narration.
“There are a lot of great families, and it’s not just four families or whatever,” she’s heard saying. “There are other people out there that are very qualified and we’ve had enough Bushes.”
At the end of the video, the screen reads: “Mother knows best Jeb!”
Despite her initial concerns, Barbara Bush was the only family member to attend Jeb’s presidential announcement in mid-June. She changed her tune in early February during a dinner in Florida for her family’s literacy foundation.
“I’ve changed my mind,” she reportedly said at the time.
The former Florida governor has been the primary victim of much of Trump’s attacks lately and recently chose to fire back after ignoring the bombastic billionaire’s antics for quite some time.
“There’s a big difference between Donald Trump and me,” Bush reportedly told voters at a town hall in New Hampshire last Thursday. “I’m a proven conservative with a record. He isn’t.”
