Ten nuggets of wisdom from Bush to Trump

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Editor's note: Dr. John Gong is a research fellow at Charhar Institute and professor at the University of International Business and Economics. The views expressed are his own and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Two events happened over two days, one sorrowing and one celebrating. Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush passed away on Friday, and the day after the two great men of the two great nations averted a trade war of historic proportions.

During his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of G20 summit, President Trump said that his Air Force One airplane will take George H. W. Bush's casket from Houston to Washington, DC for the state funeral, after his return trip home.

As Bush was lying quietly on Air Force One, I am wondering what the 41st president of the United States would have liked to say to the 45th president.

So this afternoon I went back to some of the famous Bush quotes and picked out those that might be relevant to Trump's many headaches in Washington, DC. These are very sound advice, and I hope Trump will have a chance to look at this. This is my way of commemorating George H. W. Bush.

So without further due, here is the top-10 list I compiled, as usual, in the Letterman tradition:

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush salutes as he departs the East Front of the U.S. Capitol Building after Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States in Washington, DC., January 20, 2009. /VCG Photo

10. "Read my lips, no new tariffs!"

Well, what H.W. Bush really said is “no new taxes.” That is his famous campaign slogan that landed him in the White House. I am mixing up things because Trump really can't tell the difference between taxes and tariffs anyway, and more importantly, he has openly indicated that he views those humongous billion dollar tariffs as a source of tax revenue.

But I hope, unlike H.W. Bush, he would keep his promise to President Xi today.

9. “I do not like sushi. And I haven't liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I'm president of the United States and I'm not going to eat any more sushi.”

Well again. I am mixing up things. What H.W. Bush really said is broccoli, not sushi. But that is what President Trump did anyway during his visit to Japan. That is OK. America can thrive without sushi.

8. “We don't want an America that is closed to the world. What we want is a world that is open to America.”

Apparently, President Trump only understands the second part of H. W. Bush's statement as he has been pushing many countries including China in trade frictions.

But when it comes to opening America to the world, he builds walls to the south and puts tariffs to the west. Very regrettable.

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, December 1, 2018. /VCG Photo

7. “We can realize a lasting peace and transform the East-West relationship to one of enduring cooperation.”

In the spirit of today's celebrating truce of the trade war, I say, hurray, hurray! President Trump is indeed heeding the call from the 41st president.

6. “America is never wholly herself unless she is engaged in high moral principle.”

Well, this is something President Trump had better really listen to. Four hundred fifty billion is indeed something you can walk away from in comparison to America's high moral principle and holding America whole.

5. “I stand for anti-bigotry, anti-Semitism, and anti-racism.”

Well, this is something President Trump had better really listen to. Barring anti-Semitism, I think President Trump is only three inches away from the other two, judging by his statement after the clashes caused by White supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia last year.

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Buenos Aires, November 30, 2018. /VCG Photo

4. “What's wrong with being a boring kind of guy?”

President Trump is a showman. He once famously said that there is no bad publicity. All publicity is good publicity. He has been saying “you are fired” on "The Apprentice" for a long, long time, and he has indeed fired a long list of people. But please, take H.W. Bush's advice. Being boring is OK. Staying away from media flashlight is OK. And it is OK to be abstinent from tweeting.

3. “Losing is tough.”

I have put the most important three pieces of advice from H.W. Bush to the top of the list, and this is the first one. Bush said this after losing to Bill Clinton in his second term bid. Trump knows this phrase all too well. He proclaims to be always on a winning streak. We will see if his luck is running out with Mr. Robert Mueller.

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush speaks at the official opening of the new U.S. embassy, in Berlin, Germany, July 4, 2008. /VCG Photo

2. “It's much worse to read criticism about your son than yourself.”

This one President Trump must have resonated with greatly. Again we will see if his son will be dragged into the Mueller investigation as well.

1. “It's a very good question, very direct, and I'm not going to answer it.

President Trump definitely needs this one day he has to sit opposite of Mr Robert Mueller face to face. Instead of saying “I don't recall” or straight making up things, which he has a penchant to do, I think this probably could help. Good luck, Mr. President!

(Cover Photo: The combined photo shows former U.S. President George H.W. Bush giving a speech during a fundraising lunch at the St. Francis hotel, February 25, 1992, and incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump talking to the media on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington before his departure for the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 29, 2018. /VCG Photo)

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