George W. Bush was announced as an honorary national co-chair of America250 alongside Barack Obama.
The announcement was made in August 2024. Bush and Obama served as former presidents representing different administrations and political eras, while their spouses, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama, were also named honorary national co-chairs.
Honorary national co-chairs are not the same as the commission chair. Rosie Rios led the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, whereas the honorary co-chairs served as prominent public figures associated with the national commemoration.
The pairing also reflects the anniversary’s effort to present the commemoration as a nationwide undertaking rather than a celebration tied to one administration. George W. Bush is sometimes confused with his father, George H. W. Bush, who was also a former president but was not the person named in this 2024 America250 announcement.