All five living former US presidents make rare appearance for hurricane benefit concert. Trump sends video message

It was reportedly the first time the five men have been united in one place since 2013

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Former presidents from right, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter gather on stage during a hurricanes relief concert in College Station, Texas. Photo: AP

Published: 11:12am, 22 Oct 2017Updated: 10:15pm, 22 Oct 2017

The five living former US presidents made a rare appearance together on stage at a fundraiser for those affected by recent hurricanes that struck Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. It was a show of unity and compassion after a week in which Barack Obama and George W. Bush broke an unwritten rule to deliver implicit criticism of the present occupant of the White House.

While neither mentioned Donald Trump by name, Bush gave a speech in New York expressing concern that “bigotry seems emboldened” in a climate of cruel rhetoric and nativism, while Obama referred to the “politics of division” and “folks who are deliberately trying to make folks angry” at Democratic campaign stops in New Jersey and Virginia.

Politics was set aside for the sold-out concert at Texas A&M University’s Reed Arena, however, as Bush, Obama, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush were given a rapturous welcome by the audience. Both Bushes live in Texas and the 41st president’s library and museum is on the A&M campus.

A video message from US President Donald Trump is played on the stage during a hurricanes relief concert. Photo: AP

The event, Deep From The Heart: The One America Appeal, featured a host of country and gospel music stars.

It was launched last month after Hurricane Harvey battered Texas and expanded when Hurricane Irma hit Florida and Hurricane Maria devastated parts of the Caribbean, together causing several hundred deaths and billions of dollars in damage.

“All of us on this stage here tonight could not be prouder of the response of Americans. When they see their neighbours and they see their friends, they see strangers in need, Americans step up,” Obama said.