First Lady Melania Trump to attend funeral of Barbara Bush

First Lady Melania Trump will be representing her family at the Saturday funeral of late First Lady Barbara Bush.  Pres. Trump is not expected to attend.  Mrs. Trump called Mrs. Bush a "woman of strength" in a condolence statement the White House released only in her name.  First Ladies often attend funerals without their husbands.   Per usual presidential protocol, however, condolence statements are released in the names of the couple, such as in the case of the condolence statement from Vice President Pence and his wife.

Barbara Bush, a graduate of the prestigious Wellesley College for women, who counts among its alums Hillary Clinton and Madeleine Albright, once said, "I don't know how a woman can vote for Donald Trump."  While the relationship between the families is strained, Pres. Trump honored Mrs. Bush with an order for government entities to fly flags at half-staff through sunset on Saturday. 

The Bush family was fond of the Obamas who will be attending the funeral along with former presidents and their spouses.

The Bush matriarch's funeral will be held in Houston where she and her husband George H.W. Bush retired after serving two terms in the White House.