Former President George W. Bush is reflecting on his unlikely friendship with former First Lady Michelle Obama, recalling one of the moments that unexpectedly went viral. During a recent conversation with his daughter Jenna Bush Hager, Bush remembered sitting beside Obama at Senator John McCain’s 2018 funeral and quietly handing her an Altoid. The small gesture was captured on camera and quickly became a symbol of political differences being set aside.

Bush said he was surprised by how strongly people reacted, explaining that Americans seemed eager to see a Republican and Democrat simply enjoying each other’s company. Michelle Obama has similarly spoken warmly about their friendship, saying that although they may disagree on politics, they share values such as humanity, love, and compassion. She has described Bush as her “partner in crime” at events where former presidents and first ladies gather.

Their friendship continued through other major occasions, including the funeral of George H.W. Bush later in 2018. Obama has recalled that Bush gave her another piece of candy from a small White House box, joking about how long he had been carrying them. She said moments like these showed that political party, race, and gender do not necessarily have to divide people.

Still, their friendly relationship exists against a very different political history. Barack Obama was highly critical of George W. Bush’s presidency during the 2008 campaign, particularly over the economy and foreign policy. That contrast makes Bush and Michelle Obama’s friendship even more striking: despite major political differences and disagreements between their parties, they have chosen to maintain a personal connection—and their public interactions continue to remind people that political opponents can still treat one another with respect.