Trump declares day of mourning, closes federal government for George H.W. Bush's Washington funeral

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 5 December 2018

President Trump has ordered the federal government to shut down Wednesday and declared a national day of mourning for former President George H.W. Bush, who died Friday at age 94. Trump will attend but not speak at Bush's funeral at Washington National Cathedral on Wednesday; Bush's son and fellow ex-president George W. Bush will give a eulogy, as will former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.), former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, and presidential historian Jon Meacham.

After the funeral, Bush's body will be flown back to Houston, where it will lie in repose at St. Martin's Episcopal Church. Bush will be buried Thursday next to wife Barbara and daughter Robin in a family plot at Texas A&M University in College Station.

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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.