Former President George W. Bush and his family are working behind the scenes to reclaim control of the Republican Party once President Donald Trump exits office, according to new reports emerging from sources close to the situation.
Whispers of a coordinated effort to end what insiders are calling the “Bush Exile” have begun circulating among Republican circles.
The alleged plan aims to wrest control of the GOP away from Trump and dismantle his Make America Great Again agenda, the Daily Mail reported.
A shadow Republican establishment with deep connections across the country is positioning itself to seize power when Trump’s time in office concludes, according to the outlet.
These forces have reportedly remained dormant but connected throughout Trump’s political dominance.
Bush himself has maintained a public posture of refusing to criticize Trump directly, a stance that has frustrated some of his former aides. However, sources suggest he may be willing to work quietly behind closed doors to influence the Republican Party’s direction moving forward.
A former Bush administration official speaking to the outlet noted that Trump understands he cannot pursue a third term. The same source acknowledged that Vice President JD Vance holds an early advantage over potential rivals in the 2028 Republican presidential race.
The former official predicted a wide-open contest within the Republican Party for the 2028 nomination. Multiple candidates are expected to vie for the opportunity to lead the GOP into the next presidential election cycle.
Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele has reportedly urged Bush to become more actively involved in party affairs. Steele believes the former president possesses a voice that could connect with a broader spectrum of American voters, according to the report.
Bush has previously expressed concerns about Trump’s leadership approach. In a 2021 interview with CBS News host Norah O’Donnell, he stated that Trump lacked the humility necessary for effective leadership.
During Trump’s first term in October 2019, Bush delivered criticism of what he characterized as an isolationist foreign policy. He argued that an “isolationist United States” was creating instability across the globe, according to Josh Rogin.
Bush warned at the time that American isolationism posed dangers to world peace.
The former president’s foreign policy critiques carried particular weight given his own record. Bush led the nation into military conflicts in both Afghanistan and Iraq during his presidency.
More than 4,500 Americans died in Iraq under Bush’s leadership. Breitbart News reported that combat operations alone claimed the lives of over 3,500 service members during those years.
The potential Bush family intervention represents a significant development in the ongoing battle for the soul of the Republican Party. Trump’s MAGA movement has fundamentally reshaped the GOP’s priorities, rhetoric and base of support.
The 2028 presidential race looms as the critical battleground where these competing visions for the Republican Party will collide.
The outcome will determine whether Trump’s populist approach or Bush-era establishment politics guides the GOP’s future.
