presidential trips bush

U.S. presidents have made 16 previous trips to Brussels (peach-colored lines), where President Trump is today.

• ALL OVER THE MAP

New Map Explores the History of Presidential Trips Abroad

From Teddy Roosevelt’s visit to Panama in 1906 to Trump’s trip this week, U.S. presidents have made more than 900 visits to foreign places.

In taking his first trip abroad as president this week, Donald Trump joins a long tradition. Since Teddy Roosevelt went to Panama in 1906 to inspect construction work on the Panama Canal, U.S. presidents have made 921 visits to foreign places, including the nine on Trump’s itinerary. A new interactive map allows you to explore where the presidents—and their secretaries of state—have gone.

One thing that stands out is the dramatic increase in presidential travel after World War II. The obvious explanation is the advent of jet aircraft, which shortened trips and put the entire globe within reach, says Robert Nelson, director of the Digital Scholarship Lab at the University of Richmond, which created the map. But the shift also reflects America’s growing global influence and use of soft power—diplomacy rather than military might—in the latter half of the 20th century, Nelson says.

Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, who succeeded him, made a combined total of three trips to two places: Panama and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, just across the border from El Paso, Texas. In contrast, George W. Bush and Barack Obama visited 309 places on six continents (Bush traveled slightly more—168 places to Obama’s 141).

“The first really big presidential trip is Woodrow Wilson’s trip abroad to attend the Paris Peace Conference at the end of the First World War,” Nelson says. Wilson was gone more than six months. “He was traveling by boat, so it was a huge time commitment.”

A few other presidential milestones:

• First trip to Africa: Franklin Delano Roosevelt attended a conference in Casablanca, Morocco, in January 1943
• First trip to Asia: Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited Tehran, Iran, in November 1943 to meet with Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
• Most traveled president: Bill Clinton visited 195 foreign places
• Least traveled president: Calvin Coolidge took zero trips abroad

Data for the map—drawn from travel records kept by the Office of the Historian at the U.S. State Department—were compiled by University of Richmond students in a class taught by Nelson’s colleague Tim Barney.

Nelson decided to put Washington, D.C., at the center of the map to highlight the distances to different destinations. Colors correspond to geographic regions on the map and on the ring around it, which indicates the total number of trips within a given time period. The colors around the ring show, for example, that while Latin America and Europe dominated presidential itineraries early in the 20th century, travel to Asia and Africa has increased in recent decades.

U.S. secretaries of state (right) appear to make more trips than presidents to the Middle East (represented by purple in the rings around both maps).

The colored rings also suggest that secretaries of state have spent more time in the Middle East than presidents have (see above). Perhaps, Nelson suggests, that’s because presidential visits are more ceremonial, whereas secretaries of state are the ones dispatched to regions where there’s hard diplomatic work to be done.

A hill rising up from the ring means a lot of trips—and many of these appear to coincide with international crises, such as a flurry of trips to the Middle East by Secretary of State George Shultz in the mid-1980s, during an escalation of the conflict in Lebanon.

Trump’s trip follows a tumultuous couple of weeks for his administration at home, and there is a tradition for that as well. Ronald Reagan took a nine-day break from the Iran-Contra scandal with a trip to Europe in 1987. And President Clinton visited Russia and Northern Ireland in 1998, after testifying to the grand jury investigating his dalliance with Monica Lewinsky.

Each trip, whether it advances the interests of the nation or merely provides a respite for a beleaguered leader, adds another dot to the map.

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Presidential Vacations & Retreats: President George W. Bush at His Ranch

President George W. Bush cleared cedar branches during a month-long vacation at his 1,600-acre ranch near Crawford, Texas in August, 2002. "The amazing thing about this job is, the job seems to follow you around."

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These online exhibits and digital collections explore some of the artifacts, photos and videos, and documents housed in the George W. Bush Presidential Library. 

The George W. Bush Presidential Library maintains approximately 43,000 artifacts, primarily foreign and domestic gifts given to the President and Mrs. Laura Bush, and other items obtained throughout the presidency.

The George W. Bush Presidential Library gives researchers a look at American history, the American Presidency, and important issues of public policy.      

Discover educational resources for teachers, parents, and students. The education program provides engaging, hands-on classroom resources, professional development programming, information on the Civics for All of US program, and more.

Get Involved

Find out ways to be part of the mission and support the George W. Bush Presidential Library.

First Lady's Foreign Trips

As First Lady, Laura Bush traveled domestically to all 50 states and internationally to more than 75 countries.

Laura Bush meets with teachers and children, March 2, 2006, during her visit to Mother Teresa's Jeevan Jyoti (Light of Life) Home for Disabled Children in New Delhi, India.

View in the National Archives Catalog

The George W. Bush Foundation owns and operates the George W. Bush Presidential Museum. For tickets go to  https://www.bushcenter.org/ plan-your-visit  

In Africa, the African Education Initiative [. . .] gives scholarships to girls, because we know if girls are educated, they're more likely to be able to avoid AIDS, they're more likely to maker better and wiser decisions that protect their children [. . .]. And since that's what I'm particularly interested in, education, and have always been, that's been the focus of most of my international travel.

- Mrs. Laura Bush, May 12, 2006

As First Lady, Laura Bush traveled domestically to all 50 states and internationally to more than 75 countries. A leading advocate for literacy, Mrs. Bush championed the power of education to foster healthy families and communities, advance opportunities for young people, and promote human rights worldwide, particularly for women and children. 

West Africa - January 14, 2006 to January 18, 2006

FOIA 2014-0528-F consists of material for Laura Bush's official four day trip to West Africa, including stops in Sal Island, Cape Verde; Accra, Ghana; Monrovia, Liberia; and Abuja, Nigeria, from January 14, 2006 through January 18, 2006.

On January 14, 2006, Mrs. Bush departed the White House. After a stop in Sal Island, Cape Verde for refueling, on January 15, she traveled to Accra, Ghana to begin her official visit. 

On January 16, 2006, Mrs. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice traveled to Monrovia, Liberia to attend President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's inauguration. President Sirleaf was Africa's first female elected head of state.

On January 17, 2006, Mrs. Bush visited the Accra Teacher Training College in Accra, Ghana to launch the Africa Education Initiative Textbooks and Learning Materials Program alongside Ghana President John Agyekum Kufuor. She also visited patients and staff at the Korle-Bu Treatment Center for AIDS.

On January 18, 2006, after being greeted by traditional dancers and festivities, Mrs. Bush announced a $163 million commitment by the United States to Nigeria to battle AIDS when she visited the Saint-Mary's Catholic Hospital in Gwagwalada, Nigeria. While visiting Abuja, she participated in a roundtable with students at the Model Secondary School and addressed attendees at the National Center for Women's Development about women's empowerment. Lastly, she met with Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo. Mrs. Bush traveled to the United States Embassy and greeted employees. That evening, she departed for her return to the United States.

India - March 1, 2006 to March 4, 2006

FOIA 2014-0532-F contains materials related to Mrs. Laura Bush's trip to India in March 2006 where she visited Mother Teresa's Home for Disabled Children (Jeevan Jyoti) and the set of Galli Galli Sim Sim (the Indian version of Sesame Street).

On February 28, 2006, President and Mrs. Bush departed the White House. After a stop in Shannon, Ireland for refueling, they traveled to Kabul, Afghanistan. Shortly thereafter, they continued to New Delhi, India to begin their official visit, arriving on March 1, 2006.

On March 2, 2006, President and Mrs. Bush participated in a formal arrival ceremony which was followed by a wreath-laying in honor of Mahatma Gandhi. Mrs. Bush participated in the taping of a segment for Galli Galli Sim Sim, the Indian version of Sesame Street, and visited a girls' home run by Prayas, an organization aimed at assisting impoverished and/or abused youth. Following these engagements, the President and Mrs. Bush had lunch with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife, Gursharan Kaur. The President and Mrs. Bush then traveled to the United States Embassy and greeted employees. Lastly, Mrs. Bush visited Jeevan Jyoti (Light of Life), the home for disabled children founded by Mother Teresa. That evening, President and Mrs. Bush attended a state dinner.

On March 3, 2006, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Hyderabad, India. Mrs. Bush participated in an event focused on HIV/AIDS, visited a Home Science School Lab, and participated in a roundtable on women's empowerment. The President and Mrs. Bush also traveled to New Delhi, India for remarks by the President before traveling to Islamabad, Pakistan.

On March 4, 2006, President and Mrs. Bush participated in a formal arrival ceremony. Mrs. Bush participated in a roundtable regarding education, met with Sehba Musharraf (wife of President Pervez Musharraf), and attended a briefing on earthquake reconstruction efforts within Pakistan. Mrs. Bush also attended a press availability with President Bush and President Musharraf and attended a formal lunch. Following lunch, President and Mrs. Bush traveled to the United States Embassy and greeted employees. That evening, the President and Mrs. Bush attended a state dinner before departing for their return to the United States.

The following carefully selected resources, some of which are from the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, provide further information about the First Lady's foreign travel.  

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests

• 2014-0528-F: Records Related to Laura Bush's Trip to Ghana to Launch the Africa Education Initiative in 2006
• 2014-0532-F: Mrs. Laura Bush's Trip to India in March 2006

Archival Research Guide

For a more complete guide of the archival records that are open for research, please download the Archival Research Guide:

Document Material at the George W. Bush Presidential Library Pertaining to The First Lady, Laura Bush

Additional Resources

• The 15th Anniversary of Mrs. Laura Bush's Historic Trip to Afghanistan, 2005
• Press Briefing by the First Lady En Route Accra, Ghana
• Press Briefing by the First Lady After Liberia Inauguration
• Mrs. Laura Bush's Remarks at the Launch of the Africa Education Initiative Textbooks Program
• Mrs. Laura Bush's Remarks at a Visit to St. Mary's Hospital in Nigeria
• Mrs. Laura Bush's Remarks at the National Center for Women Development in Nigeria
• Press Briefing by the First Lady En Route Sal Island, Cape Verde
• First Lady's Visit to Asia, February 18-22, 2002
• First Lady's Trip to Europe and Russia, November 19-23, 2002
• First Lady's Trip to Europe, February 20-23, 2005
• First Lady's Visit to Afghanistan, March 29-31, 2005
• First Lady's Trip to Asia, November 15-21, 2005
• First Lady's Trip to West Africa, January 14-18, 2006
• First Lady's Visit to Italy, February 8-12, 2006
• First Lady's Visit to Costa Rica, May 7-8, 2006
• First Lady's Trip to India, March 1-4, 2006
• First Lady's Visit to Germany and Russia, July 12-17, 2006
• First Lady's Visit to France, January 14-17, 2007
• First Lady's Visit to Latin America, March 8-14, 2007
• First Lady's Trip to Africa, June 25-29, 2007
• First Lady's Trip to the Middle East, October 20-26, 2007
• First Lady's Trip to Africa, February 15-21, 2008
• First Lady's Trip to Haiti, March 13, 2008
• First Lady's Trip to Europe, June 9-16, 2008
• First Lady's Trip to Panama and Peru, November 20-23, 2008 

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President's Role

Presidential Vacations

By Lori Robertson

Posted on August 28, 2014 | Updated on December 23, 2015

Q: Is it true that George W. Bush took more vacation days than Barack Obama?

A: Yes. Before his two-week trip to Martha’s Vineyard in August, Obama’s count was 125 full or partial days and Bush’s total at the same point in his presidency was 407.

FULL ANSWER

Our inbox is chock full of questions about who took more vacation days, Obama or Bush. (The short answer: Bush. The long answer: There’s no such thing as a true non-working vacation for the president.)

The recent barrage from our readers coincides with Obama’s 15-day family vacation on Martha’s Vineyard — he returned to the White House on Aug. 24 — which occurred during major news events including the beheading of a U.S. journalist by Islamic militants and protests in Ferguson, Missouri, after a police officer shot and killed an unarmed 18-year-old black man. The vacation also occurred during the funeral of Maj. Gen. Harold J. Greene , the only general officer killed in Afghanistan.

Obama faced criticism for being on vacation during these times, but those types of complaints are nothing new — either to Obama or presidents in general.

Readers may recall the criticism directed at Bush for the August weeks spent at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. Others may remember Democrats chastising President Dwight Eisenhower for spending time on the golf course .

We last dealt with the who-took-more-vacation question in January 2010 , at which point Obama had spent 26 days on “vacation” during his first year in office, fewer than the first year totals for Presidents Bush, George H.W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Our numbers are all courtesy of CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller, who has covered every president since Gerald Ford and tracks the commander in chief’s travel.

But, as we noted then, presidents never fully escape from the job. Knoller told us he doesn’t consider these days away from the White House real “vacation” days. He said then in an email: “I have long held the view that a US president is never really on vacation. The job — and its awesome powers and responsibilities — is his wherever he is and whatever he’s doing.”

Bush officials called the Crawford ranch the “Western White House” to emphasize the days there involved plenty of official business, and Obama’s recent Martha’s Vineyard break included several presidential statements and two days spent back at the White House in the middle of the “vacation.” Presidents may clear brush or hit the links, but they are never actually off the clock.

Still, much is made of these presidential vacation days — and how to count them. Knoller doesn’t include visits to Camp David , the presidential retreat in Maryland often used to host foreign leaders. On Aug. 8, the day before Obama left for Martha’s Vineyard , Knoller tweeted that Obama had spent 125 full or partial days on vacation , and at the same point in Bush’s presidency, he had spent 381 days at his Texas ranch plus 26 days at his parents’ home in Kennebunkport, Maine, for a total of 407.

When we emailed Knoller on Aug. 26, Obama was up to 140 days by his count. Bush’s total for his two terms in office is 533 days, which includes 490 at the ranch and the rest at Kennebunkport. For comparison’s sake, President Bill Clinton’s total is 174 days, and Reagan hit 390 (349 at his ranch and 41 in Palm Springs), according to Knoller.

Adding in Camp David visits would bring Obama’s total to date to 223 (that’s 83 days at Camp David) and Bush’s total for his entire time in office to 1,024 (491 days at the presidential retreat). Note that Obama still has more than two years in office to narrow the gap.

Deciding how to count these “vacation” days can create some confusion. CNN recently listed a count of 879 days for Bush and 150 for Obama, numbers that came from a Washington Post “Outlook” piece on “Five myths on presidential vacations.” (Myth No. 1: “Presidents get vacations.”) The 879 figure, it turns out, is from March 3, 2008, at which point Bush had spent that many days at the ranch and Camp David (but it doesn’t include days in Kennebunkport). The numbers are in a 2008 Washington Post piece and attributed to Knoller.

If readers want to make an apples-to-apples comparison, the best solution is to use Knoller’s figures as of August 8, cited above: Bush, 407; Obama, 125. But the numbers say more about how many days the presidents spent away from the White House than they do about how much time the presidents spent not working.

Updated, Dec. 23, 2015: As he has in past years, the president is vacationing in Hawaii for the holidays. So we thought we would check in with Knoller, the CBS reporter who keeps track of presidential vacations, for an update. Knoller tells us in an email that Obama has taken “24 vacation trips of varying lengths totaling all or part of 182 days as of today.” This means that Obama as president now has taken more vacation days than Bill Clinton, but less than George W. Bush.

— Lori Robertson

Knoller, Mark. Email interview with FactCheck.org. 26 Aug 2014.

Knoller, Mark. Twitter feed . 8 Aug 2014.

Farris, Scott. “ Five myths about presidential vacations .” Washington Post. 15 Aug 2014.

Froomkin, Dan. White House Watch . Washington Post. 4 Mar 2008.

Gore, D’Angelo. “ President Obama’s Vacation Days .” FactCheck.org. 11 Jan 2010.

Mason, Julie. “ Bush says it’s no vacation at his Crawford ranch .” Houston Chronicle. 7 Aug 2005.

Superville, Darlene. “ Obama Back at White House After Summer ‘Vacation. ‘ ” Associated Press. 24 Aug 2014.

Jackson, David. “ Obama’s golf: Not like Ike (or Wilson). ” USA Today. 30 Dec 2011.

Lin, C.J. “ Maj. Gen. Harold Greene receives full burial honors at Arlington .” Stars and Stripes. 14 Aug 2014.

List of international presidential trips made by George W. Bush

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This is a list of international presidential trips made by George W. Bush , the 43rd president of the United States . George W. Bush made 49 international trips to 73 countries (in addition to visiting the West Bank ) during his presidency , which began on January 20, 2001 and ended on January 20, 2009 . [1]

Multilateral meetings

External links.

Bush visited six continents : Africa , Asia , Australia , Europe , North America , and South America . On one of his two trips to Sub-Saharan Africa , he visited three of the poorest countries in the world at the time: Liberia, Rwanda, and Benin. He also made a secret trip to Iraq on Thanksgiving Day 2003 to dine with the troops. His father had made a similar visit to the U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia in 1990. On November 15–20, 2006, Bush made the third round the world presidential flight (after Johnson and Nixon ).

The number of visits per country where President Bush travelled are:

• One visit to Albania , Argentina , Austria , Bahrain , Benin , Botswana , Bulgaria , Chile , Croatia , Denmark , El Salvador , Estonia , Georgia , Ghana , Guatemala , Hungary , India , Kosovo , Kuwait , Liberia , Lithuania , Mongolia , Netherlands , Nigeria , Pakistan , Panama , Philippines , Portugal , Qatar , Rwanda , Senegal , Slovakia , South Africa , Spain , Sweden , Tanzania , Turkey , Uganda , Ukraine , United Arab Emirates , Uruguay , Vietnam , and the West Bank
• Two visits to Afghanistan , Australia , Belgium , Brazil , Colombia , Czech Republic , Indonesia , Ireland , Israel , Jordan , Latvia , Peru , Romania , Saudi Arabia , Singapore , Slovenia , and Thailand
• Three visits to Egypt , South Korea , and Poland
• Four visits to Canada , China , France , Iraq , and Japan
• Five visits to Germany , the United Kingdom , and Vatican City
• Six visits to Italy and Mexico
• Seven visits to Russia

Multilateral meetings of the following intergovernmental organizations took place during President Bush's term in office (2001–2009).

• Foreign policy of the George W. Bush administration
• Foreign policy of the United States
• List of international trips made by Colin Powell as United States Secretary of State
• List of international trips made by Condoleezza Rice as United States Secretary of State

Related Research Articles

George W. Bush's tenure as the 43rd president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 2001, and ended on January 20, 2009. Bush, a Republican from Texas and the eldest son of George H. W. Bush, took office following a narrow victory over Democratic incumbent vice president Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election. Four years later, in the 2004 presidential election, he defeated Democrat nominee John Kerry to win re-election. Bush was succeeded by Democrat Barack Obama, who won the 2008 presidential election.

The main event by far shaping the foreign policy of the United States during the presidency of George W. Bush (2001–2009) was the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, and the subsequent war on terror. There was massive domestic and international support for destroying the attackers. With UN approval, US and NATO forces quickly invaded the attackers' base in Afghanistan and drove them out and the Taliban government that harbored them. It was the start of a 20-year quagmire that finally ended in failure with the withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan.

The foreign policy of the Bill Clinton administration was of secondary concern to a president fixed on domestic policy. He relied chiefly on his two experienced Secretaries of State Warren Christopher (1993–1997) and Madeleine Albright (1997–2001), as well as Vice President Al Gore. The Cold War had ended and the Dissolution of the Soviet Union had taken place under his predecessor President George H. W. Bush, whom Clinton criticized for being too preoccupied with foreign affairs. The United States was the only remaining superpower, with a military strength far overshadowing the rest of the world. There were tensions with countries such as Iran and North Korea, but no visible threats. Clinton's main priority was always domestic affairs, especially economics. Foreign-policy was chiefly of interest to him in terms of promoting American trade. His administration signed more than 300 bilateral trade agreements. His emergencies had to do with humanitarian crises which raised the issue of American or NATO or United Nations interventions to protect civilians, or armed humanitarian intervention, as the result of civil war, state collapse, or oppressive governments.

The term Obama Doctrine is frequently used to describe the principles of US foreign policy under the Obama administration (2009–2017). He relied chiefly on his two highly experienced Secretaries of State—Hillary Clinton (2009–2013) and John Kerry (2013–2017)—and Vice President Joe Biden.

Fifteen presidents of the United States have made thirty-four presidential visits to Mexico . The first visit by an incumbent president to Mexico was made in 1909 by William Howard Taft. It was only the second time in U.S. history that a president left the country while in office.

The Barack Obama administration 's involvement in the Middle East was greatly varied between the region's various countries. Some nations, such as Libya and Syria, were the subject of offensive action at the hands of the Obama administration, while nations such as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia received arms deliveries. Notable achievements of the administration include inhibiting the Iranian nuclear program, while his handling of certain situations, such as the Syrian civil war, were highly criticized.

Nine presidents of the United States have made presidential visits to North Africa . The first trips by a sitting president to countries in North Africa were those of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and were an offshoot of Allied diplomatic interactions during World War II. Of the five countries in the region, only Libya has not yet been visited by an American president.

Ten United States presidents have made presidential visits to the Middle East . The first trips by an incumbent president to countries in the Middle East were those by Franklin D. Roosevelt, and were an offshoot of Allied diplomatic interactions during World War II. To date, 16 visits have been made to Egypt, 12 to Saudi Arabia, 11 to Israel, six to both Iraq, Jordan and Turkey, four to Iran, three to the Palestinian Territories, two to both Kuwait and Syria, one to Bahrain, Georgia, Oman, Qatar, and to the United Arab Emirates. No incumbent American president has yet visited Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Lebanon, and Yemen.

The timeline of the Gulf War details the dates of the major events of the 1990–1991 war. It began with the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990 and ended with the Liberation of Kuwait by Coalition forces. Iraq subsequently agreed to the United Nations' demands on 28 February 1991. The ground war officially concluded with the signing of the armistice on 11 April 1991. However, the official end to Operation Desert Storm did not occur until sometime between 1996 - 1998. Major events in the aftermath include anti-Saddam Hussein uprisings in Iraq, massacres against the Kurds by the regime, Iraq formally recognizing the sovereignty of Kuwait in 1994, and eventually ending its cooperation with the United Nations Special Commission in 1998.

George H. W. Bush, whose term as president lasted from 1989 until 1993, had extensive experience with US foreign policy. Unlike his predecessor, Ronald Reagan, he downplayed vision and emphasized caution and careful management. He had quietly disagreed with many of Reagan's foreign policy decisions and tried to build his own policies. His main foreign policy advisors were Secretaries of State James Baker, a longtime friend, and National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft. Key geopolitical events that occurred during Bush's presidency were:

• ↑ "The President's News Conference With President Vicente Fox of Mexico in San Cristobal, Mexico" . The American Presidency Project . University of California, Santa Barbara . February 16, 2001 . Retrieved April 7, 2016 .
• ↑ "Timeline of Bush's secret journey" . CNN . November 28, 2003 . Retrieved March 20, 2023 .
• ↑ "Bush in Halifax: 'Thank you for your kindness' " . CBC. December 1, 2004.
• ↑ "Bush honors WWII dead on Netherlands stop: Marking V-E Day, president reflects on 'terribler price' " . NBC News . May 8, 2005 . Retrieved February 26, 2016 .
• Travels of President George W. Bush . U.S. Department of State Office of the Historian.
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Disney World to host exhibit of George W. Bush paintings

( The Hill ) — Former President George W. Bush’s paintings are going to Disney World. 

EPCOT, one of the theme parks at Disney’s resort in Orlando, Fla., announced Wednesday that it will soon be home to a special exhibit of Bush’s artwork.

“Portraits of Courage: A Commander’s Tribute to America’s Warriors” will feature more than 60 paintings from Bush of “service members and veterans who have served our nation with honor since 9/11, and whom the president has come to know personally since leaving office.”

The exhibit from the George W. Bush Institute will be on display for a year inside EPCOT’s American Adventure Pavilion beginning June 9.

Each piece of art will be accompanied by a story penned by Bush about the veteran depicted. The exhibit will also highlight resources to support those serving in the military since Sept. 11, 2001. 

Ken Hersh, president and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidentical Center,  said in  a statement that he hoped visitors to the Disney exhibit will “remember the leadership, service and sacrifice behind each of the heroes painted and the unique challenges our servicemembers and their families face when transitioning out of the military.”

It’s not the first time that Bush’s paintings have hit the road. In 2019, the portraits went  on display  at the Kennedy Center as part of an exhibit honoring service members. 

The 77-year-old former commander in chief picked up a penchant for painting after leaving the White House in 2009. He said in 2013 that he was taking weekly painting lessons.

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George W. Bush’s Original Paintings Are Making Their Disney Theme Park Debut

The former United States president is lending a hand for National Military Appreciation Month

George W. Bush Institute

George W. Bush will soon have his artwork displayed at Disney!

The former United States president, who served from 2001 to 2009, is lending a hand — quite literally — as National Military Appreciation Month kicks off in May.

Bush’s artwork will be shown at a grand opening titled Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors on June 9. The special exhibit, from the George W. Bush Institute, will be featured as part of Disney’s enduring admiration for those who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces and veterans, per a press release shared with PEOPLE. 

In a joint Instagram carousel shared by Disney Parks and The Bush Center on Wednesday, May 1, Bush, 77, is photographed dipping a paintbrush into a mixture of colors as he stands near an easel showing a canvas portrait of soldiers. 

“Paintings by President Bush are coming soon to EPCOT in the American Adventure pavilion on June 9! 🇺🇸 Learn more about @thebushcenter Portraits of Courage honoring veterans (link in bio). #DisneySALUTES ,” the post's caption reads. 

According to the press release, the exhibit grew out of Bush’s personal commitment and the ongoing work of the Bush Institute’s Veterans and Military Families program. 

It will feature more than 60 oil paintings by Bush of service members and veterans who have served in military uniform with honor since 9/11, and whom Bush has had a growing bond with after leaving the Oval Office.

The Walt Disney Company

“Celebrating those who give so much to our country has been part of the fabric of the Walt Disney Company throughout our 100-year history,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, in the release. “We’re grateful to the Bush Institute for allowing us to feature this special collection and share it with our guests.”

Each painting will also share the story of the veteran displayed in the image, allowing visitors to learn more about these military heroes.

It will share their experiences on the battlefield, strength in their recovery from injury, and the continued leadership and contributions they make in their post-military careers. As an added bonus, each story was personally written by Bush himself.

“We are thrilled Portraits of Courage will be on display for EPCOT visitors to experience this year,” said Ken Hersh, president and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center. 

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“My hope is that those who have the opportunity to see this special exhibit will also remember the leadership, service, and sacrifice behind each of the heroes painted and the unique challenges our servicemembers and their families face when transitioning out of the military,” Hersh added. 

Resources for 9/11 veterans and their families can be found at https://www.veterancheckin.org/s/ .

Biden, after meeting with families of officers killed in NC, says the nation is grieving with them

President Joe Biden has met privately with the families of law enforcement officers shot to death on the job in Charlotte, North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — President Joe Biden said Thursday he was praying for loved ones and all those left behind after he met privately with the families of law enforcement officers shot to death on the job. The visit came just a week after he sat down with the grieving relatives of two cops killed in upstate New York.

William J. Clinton

Biden, after meeting with families of officers killed in NC, says the nation is grieving with them

President Joe Biden salutes Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings, as he arrives on Air Force One at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. Biden is meeting with the families of law enforcement officers shot to death on the job. Credit: AP/Alex Brandon

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — President Joe Biden said Thursday he was praying for loved ones and all those left behind after he met privately with the families of law enforcement officers shot to death on the job. The visit came just a week after he sat down with the grieving relatives of two cops killed in upstate New York.

“The entire nation is grieving with these families," he said from his second stop of the day in Wilmington, North Carolina, where he was announcing new measures to cut lead pipes from the water supply.

Biden detoured to Charlotte for the visit that took place with little fanfare behind closed doors, as the White House wanted Biden to be seen as respecting the privacy of grieving families and avoiding the appearance of using their grief for political purposes. He also met with officers wounded during the shooting, and wished them a fast recovery.

The president took a short motorcade across the airport to the North Carolina Air National Guard base to meet the group, which included elected officials. The location was an alternative to traveling into the city and was chosen as the least taxing one for local law enforcement officers who are still reeling from the deaths but who would have a hand in securing the president's trip.

“The men and women of law enforcement, you represent the best of us,” he said from the podium at the second stop.

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Once again, Biden was seeking to be an empathetic leader for a community reeling from gun violence, while also calling for stricter rules around firearms and more money for law enforcement on the front lines.

Four officers were killed this week in North Carolina, when a wanted man opened fire on a joint agency task force that had come to arrest him on a warrant for possession of a firearm as an ex-felon, and fleeing to elude capture. They were: Sam Poloche and William Elliott of the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Officer Joshua Eyer; and Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks.

President Joe Biden waves as he walks to board Air Force One, Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Biden is going to North Carolina. Credit: AP/Alex Brandon

Four other officers were wounded in the gunfire; the suspect was killed. An AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, a 40-caliber handgun and ammunition were found at the scene.

An AR-15 is among the weapons most often used in mass shootings, and it's the type of gun Biden is talking about when he says the U.S. should ban “ assault weapons.” Congress passed the most comprehensive gun control legislation in decades in 2022, after a horrific school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. But it didn't go far enough, Biden often says.

And as he campaigns for the 2024 election, Biden has made curbing gun violence a major campaign platform, elusive to Democrats even during the Obama era, as he fends off attacks from Republican challenger Donald Trump that he is soft on crime and anti-police.

“We have to get them the resources they need to do their job,” Biden said of law enforcement. “And keep the weapons of war" out of the wrong hands.

President Joe Biden greets Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings, as he arrives on Air Force One at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. Biden is meeting with the families of law enforcement officers shot to death on the job. Credit: AP/Alex Brandon

The violence came just about two weeks after another fatal shooting of law enforcement officers in Syracuse, New York; Lieutenant Michael Hoosock and Officer Michael Jensen were killed while looking for a driver who fled a traffic stop. After his speech, Biden met relatives of both of the officers’ families.

Biden had already been scheduled to come to Syracuse to celebrate Micron Technology’s plans to build a campus of computer chip factories, but the local police union said officers were still coming to terms with the deaths and weren’t happy with the president’s trip and had hoped he would delay.

On Thursday from Wilmington, Biden announced his administration was providing states with an additional $3 billion to replace lead pipes across the country, building on $5.8 billion for water infrastructure projects around the country announced in February.

“There’s no safe level of lead exposure," he said. “None. The only way forward is to replace every lead service line that connects clean water.”

Money for the pipe replacement comes from one of the administration’s key legislative victories, the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law that Biden signed in 2021. The infrastructure law includes over $50 billion to upgrade America’s water infrastructure.

The new round of funding will help pay for projects nationwide as Biden seeks to replace all lead pipes in the country.

“We’re going to get it done,” he said.

EPA estimates that North Carolina has 370,000 lead pipes, and $76 million will go to replace them statewide. Biden also will meet with faculty and students at a Wilmington school that replaced a water fountain with high levels of lead with money from the law.

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'One Tree Hill' star Sophia Bush makes red-carpet debut with Ashlyn Harris: See the photos

Days after Sophia Bush came out as queer and confirmed her relationship with retired soccer star Ashlyn Harris , the two have made their red-carpet debut as a couple.

The " One Tree Hill " actress, 41, posed with Harris, 38, on the red carpet of the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night. Both wore black Harbison outfits for the event, as well as jewelry from Briony Raymond.

After the gathering of journalists, Hollywood stars and politicians, Bush and Harris also posed for photos together at the Swiss ambassador's residence.

Their appearance came two days after Bush published a personal essay with Glamour , in which she confirmed her relationship with Harris. The "Chicago P.D." star filed for divorce from husband Grant Hughes last year, while Harris filed for divorce from wife Ali Krieger not long after.

Sophia Bush: The actress pens open letter to address homewrecker rumors, Ashlyn Harris relationship

But Bush denied "accusations of being a home-wrecker" in the essay and slammed "blatant lies" claiming the two had an affair. She wrote that she and Harris met in 2019 and bonded in 2023 while Bush and her husband were "separated and preparing to file for divorce" and Harris was "in the process of figuring out her own split from her wife."

In response to claims that Bush "left my ex because I suddenly realized I wanted to be with women," the actress shot back, "My partners have known what I'm into for as long as I have (so that's not it, y'all, sorry!)." She also revealed she was close to calling off her 2022 wedding to Hughes and "threw up" after posting about their one-year anniversary in 2023.

In the Glamour essay, Bush shared that while she dislikes "the notion of having to come out in 2024," the "word that best defines" her sexuality is queer. "I can't say it without smiling, actually," she wrote. "And that feels pretty great."

White House Correspondents' Dinner: Colin Jost headlines roast with cocaine, O.J. Simpson jokes

In an Instagram Story on Friday, Harris shared a screenshot of Bush's Glamour cover and wrote, "Proud of you babe." In her own Instagram post, Bush thanked followers "for the kindness, vulnerability, and the stories and journeys of your own so many of you have shared," adding, "Courage is contagious. Here's to a life in progress."

Other stars who attended Saturday's White House Correspondents' Dinner, where "Saturday Night Live" star Colin Jost roasted President Biden and former President Donald Trump, include Scarlett Johansson , Chris Pine and Da'Vine Joy Randolph .

Contributing: Naledi Ushe