Likely presidential candidate and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) told a group of New York financiers on Tuesday that when it comes to Middle East policy, he turns to his older brother and former President George W. Bush, according to the Washington Post.
“If you want to know who I listen to for advice, it’s him,” Jeb Bush said, the Post reported, citing four anonymous attendees of the meeting.
The younger Bush was answering a question about who he “consults as he thinks through his positions” on U.S.-Israel policy, the paper reported.
The event was a closed-door affair, reportedly organized by hedge fund manager and Republican Party mega-donor Paul Singer. The paper noted that it was not a fundraiser.
A Bush spokesperson addressed the comment to the Post.
“Governor Bush has said before that his brother is the greatest ally to Israel in presidential history, he admires his stalwart support for our ally, and that is in line with his commitment to standing with Israel in the face of great threats to their security and our own,” the spokesperson said on Thursday.
Last month, George W. Bush reportedly said he would be staying out of the spotlight should his brother run for President.
But a few days later, George W. Bush knocked President Obama’s Middle East policy at an event hosted by another mega donor, Sheldon Adelson — particularly the ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran and Obama’s handling of the Islamic State group in Iraq. His remarks were leaked by Bloomberg News.
