George W. Bush has painted “a really ugly picture” of Donald Trump “which he won’t show to anybody,” channeling his displeasure with the current president and his administration through his artwork rather than publicly criticizing him, according to a new book.

The former president, who took up painting after leaving office, is “expressing all of his feelings through” the medium, author Jacob Weisberg told Intelligencer in an interview published Monday about his new book, “Profiles in Cowardice: A Study of Collaboration in the Trump Era.”

Read the full interview on Intelligencer.

Bush is “painting these wounded veterans and he’s painting immigrants and he’s trying to talk about politics and express his feelings without stating them explicitly,” said Weisberg.

The book examines some of the figures who Weisberg argues enabled Trump’s return to power, including those who have failed to speak out against him.

“There’s sins of commission and sins of omission,” said Weisberg, who placed Bush’s reluctance to publicly criticize Trump in the latter category.

“Nobody wants ex-presidents to be full-time politicians and responding to everything,” said Weisberg, adding that Bush “is hiding behind, I think, a shibboleth which is that presidents have to completely remove themselves from ever commenting.”

By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.