George W Bush didn’t vote for Donald Trump — but he didn’t vote for Hillary Clinton either

A spokesman for the 43rd president did not specify who he voted for

George W Bush aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during a speech in which he declared that major combat in Iraq was finished (Getty)

George W Bush has never hidden his lack of affection for Donald Trump.

But a spokesman for the 43rd president did not vote for either Mr Trump, or his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

In a statement to the Wall Street Journal, a spokesman for Mr Bush declined to specify who the former president or the former first lady, Laura Bush, cast their votes for, but said they did so two weeks ago.

Although initial reports incorrectly claimed that the Bushes had voted for Ms Clinton on Tuesday, the failure to vote for the party’s nominee is a major departure from political tradition.

Neither Mr Bush, or his father former president George HW Bush, attended the Republican Party convention in Cleveland this summer.

Mr Trump aggressively attacked and insulted Mr Bush’s brother, Jeb Bush, in the primaries, calling him low energy.