Reports suggest that the Bush family is quietly preparing to reassert influence over the Republican Party once President Donald Trump leaves office in January 2029. According to the Daily Mail, “rumors” are circulating about a coordinated effort to end the long-running “Bush Exile” and reclaim control of the GOP from Trump’s Make America Great Again movement. Behind the scenes, a “shadow Republican Party” with deep national connections is said to be positioning itself for a post-Trump era. While George W. Bush has avoided publicly criticizing Trump, former aides claim he may still be willing to shape the party’s long-term direction. A former Bush official acknowledged that Trump “knows there’s no third term option,” while also noting that Vice President JD Vance already holds a strong advantage for the 2028 nomination.
Some Republicans aligned with the Bush era have argued the 2028 race presents an opportunity for a shift within the party. Former RNC Chair Michael Steele encouraged Bush to speak more openly, suggesting his voice could still influence many Americans. Bush himself has previously criticized Trump’s leadership style, saying he lacked “humility,” and warned in 2019 that Trump’s so-called “isolationist” policies were destabilizing. These comments resurfaced alongside renewed speculation about Bush-era figures attempting a political resurgence.
However, conservative voices strongly rejected the idea of the Bush family reclaiming the GOP. Donald Trump Jr. stated, “We will never let this happen,” while commentators like RedState’s Matt Vespa argued that the Bush brand is finished and has no support among today’s blue-collar, America First Republican base. Vespa emphasized that the GOP has been permanently reshaped by Trump, noting that candidates who opposed MAGA have consistently failed.