What was he thinking? George Bush slammed for dancing during Dallas memorial service
George W Bush has been slammed today after video emerged of the former president inappropriately dancing during a memorial service for the five officers shot dead in Dallas.
The former US president could be seen swaying back and fourth while holding hands with his wife Laura and First Lady Michelle Obama as a choir sang the patriotic Battle Hymn of the Republic.
In a line of otherwise solemn mourners, including President Barack Obama, Mr Bush was also seen smiling while the chorus sang at the event.
Both Michelle and Laura appeared to be uncomfortable with Bush's behaviour during the poignant tribute to the fallen "peacemakers in blue" - Brent Thompson, Patrick Zamarripa, Michael Krol, Lorne Ahrens and Michael Smith.
Mr Bush is now facing backlash on social media, with many saying his awkward moves were inappropriate.
oooookay george bush grooving at the dallas memorial was easily the cringiest thing i've ever seen. why is he even invited to stuff anymore?
— alexa jarred (@alexajarred) July 13, 2016
George Bush dancing to "Glory Glory Hallelujah" at the #DallasMemorial while smirking makes my heart hurt #Dallas
— Kelly Byrd (@KelByrd) July 12, 2016
LAURA: George, be on your best behavior.
GEORGE: Of course I will!
LAURA: No dancing.
GEORGE: ... pic.twitter.com/qNnyTWbe6i— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) July 12, 2016
Did I just watch George Bush dancing at a funeral of a Dallas police officer?
— James Stumbo (@StumboFarm) July 13, 2016
George Bush smiling and dancing during the singing at the #DallasMemorial ? I wonder how hard Laura was squeezing his hand to stop
— Cortland Armour (@armour_twit) July 12, 2016
Did anyone else see George bush dancing on stage at the #dallasmemorial while holding Michelle Obama's hand? #akward pic.twitter.com/EQtJSaEW3R
— Jenèe Davis (@AuthorJDavis) July 12, 2016
George Bush so childish for that rocking March thing at that memorial. Michelle looked at him like "boy if you don't sitcho..."
— the devil is a lie (@kaptain_amazing) July 13, 2016
Bush did pay tribute to the fallen officers at the event while making a plea for unity.
"Too often we judge other groups by their worst examples, while judging ourselves by our best intentions," he said.
"And this has strained our bonds of understanding and common purpose."
President Barack Obama also implored Americans of all races to show more unity and understanding as he addressed those gathered.
"I know that Americans are struggling right now with what we've witnessed over the past week," he said.
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A succession of shootings, each racially charged, has led to a sense that "the deepest fault lines of our democracy have suddenly been exposed, perhaps even widened," Obama said.
"I'm here to say we must reject such despair. I'm here to insist that we are not as divided as we seem."
The shooter, Micah Xavier Johnson, 25, used a high-powered rifle for the killings, also wounding nine other police officers and two civilians in last week's sniper attack.
Before he was killed by a police robot, Johnson told negotiators he wanted to murder white cops in revenge for the black deaths.
