Of all the things that could embroil a former president and former first lady, an Altoid breath mint has to be at the bottom of the list.
But according to former President George W. Bush, a sly gesture surrounding a breath mint and former first lady Michelle Obama that happened years ago has suddenly resurfaced — and nobody understands why!
During late Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain’s funeral in 2018, Bush and Obama shared a lighthearted moment that went viral at the time.
But now it’s suddenly resurfaced for reasons unbeknownst to Bush and Obama.
Bush revisited the interaction with Obama during an interview with his daughter, Jenna Bush Hager, last week on an episode of “History Talks.”
“I get a little antsy, as I’m sure you know, and I was sitting next to Michelle. That’s who I sit next to at funerals,” Bush said.
“And I was kind of teasing her and stuff, and I slipped her an Altoid. Not as a joke, but I thought she might want one.”
Bush went on to say that he had no idea the simple gesture between them could shock the public in such a dramatic way.
Bush addressed his daughter directly, saying, “And I got in the car afterwards, and you said, ‘You’re trending’ — I didn’t know what trending meant.”
Bush continued, saying, “It turns out, the country is starved to see a white, center-right Republican and an African American center-left Democrat having fun and being able to converse, not as political figures but as citizens.”
“And I intend to continue to try to do that,” Bush said.
Take a listen —
Obama has described the Altoid as an “old cough drop” in previous interviews.
Bush previously addressed the public reaction to the move in a 2021 interview with CBS Sunday Morning.
“The American people were so surprised that Michelle Obama and I could be friends,” Bush said at the time.
Obama agreed with Bush and his thoughts in a 2026 interview with Today.
“I didn’t realize at the time that anybody noticed what we were doing. We were sitting together — President Bush and I, we are forever seat-mates. Because of protocol, that’s how we sit at all the major functions,” she said.
“He is my partner in crime at every major thing where all the formers gather. So we’re together all the time, and I love him to death,” she said.
“I didn’t realize at the time that anybody noticed what we were doing… He is my partner in crime at every major thing where all the formers gather… I love him to death.” @MichelleObama talks about George W. Bush handing her a cough drop (an old one at that!) at McCain's funeral pic.twitter.com/hS9fV0DHjB
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 11, 2018