Trump visits George H.W. Bush's casket in the Capitol rotunda

President Trump pays his respects to George H.W. Bush — (Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/AP)

After former President George H.W. Bush's casket arrived at the U.S. Capitol on Monday afternoon, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Vice President Mike Pence, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) eulogized him as a humble and gracious public servant. Members of the public, some of whom had been waiting in line for hours, were allowed to enter the Capitol rotunda to pay their respects starting at 7:30 p.m. EST. And at 8:30 p.m., President Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived, spent about a minute in front of the flag-draped casket, then departed.

Trump, who has a rocky relationship with the Bush family, did not offer any public comments, but he saluted the casket before leaving. And in a message to Congress, Trump said Bush's life "exemplified what is truly great about America," adding that the 41st president "worked selflessly throughout his long life to bring about a world of justice and lasting peace." Trump will attend but not speak at Bush's memorial service at Washington National Cathedral on Wednesday.

Supreme Court justices and rank-and-file lawmakers also paid their respects on Monday.

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Bush will lie in state in the Capitol until Wednesday. After his Washington memorial service, he will be flown back to Houston for his funeral. Bush, who died Friday, will be buried at Texas A&M University on Thursday.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.