Michelle Obama Explains What Really Happened During Her and George W. Bush's Viral Candy Exchange

From ELLE

During John McCain's funeral, footage of George Bush seemingly passing Michelle Obama a piece of candy during the church service went viral. The former First Lady was asked about what actually happened during her appearance on the Today Show this morning, and Michelle explained it was a cough drop, first of all, but that also neither of them realized just how beloved the moment would become.

“I didn’t realize at the time that anybody noticed what we were doing," she said. "We were sitting together-you know, President Bush and I, we are forever seat mates because of protocol, that’s how we sit at all the official functions so he is my partner in crime at every major thing where all the formers gather. So we’re together all the time, and I love him to death. He’s a wonderful man. He’s a funny man. And it was a simple gesture. He was getting a cough drop from Laura, and I looked over, and I said, 'hand me a cough drop.' And he was like 'oh, okay.' And I will add that they were old cough drops. That’s the funny thing."

Obama went on to explain that she understands why their friendship resonates so much: it's a show of bipartisanship, of a Democrat and a Republican being close despite their differing political beliefs. “That’s why it matters so much," she said. "Because that’s what people are hungry for. They’re hungry for what we all know: That party doesn’t separate us, color gender, those kinds of things don’t separate us. It’s the message that we send. And if we’re the adults and leaders in the room and we’re not showing that level of decency, we cannot expect our children to do the same."

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