George W. Bush Laments Capitol Insurrection in Rare Interview: ‘I Was Sick to My Stomach’

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Former President George W. Bush said in a Thursday interview that January’s unrest in Washington, D.C. made him “sick.”

“I can’t remember what I was doing, but … I was sick to my stomach to see our nation’s Capitol being stormed by hostile forces,” Bush said in an interview with the Texas Tribune. “And it really disturbed me to the point where I did put out a statement, and I’m still disturbed when I think about it. It undermines rule of law and the ability to express yourself in peaceful ways in the public square. This was an expression that was not peaceful.”

Bush made the comment during an online appearance at this year’s South by Southwest conference, where he promoted his new book, Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants.

Asked whether he believed for President Joe Biden “stole” the election, Bush replied, “No.” Asked whether former President Donald Trump had “threatened” democracy, Bush gave the same answer.

“What’s putting democracy at risk is the capacity to get on the internet to spread … all kinds of stuff,” Bush said. “But checks and balances work. It’s a, you know, a balanced system. The courts work. The legislative process needs a little work, particularly on immigration reform.”

He added, “Right now we’re at a period of time … when there’s a lot of anger in the system, which then causes people to worry about the future of our democracy. I think it’s going to eventually work its way out of the system.”

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