Jeb Bush can hold a grudge.

The former Florida governor and presidential candidate seemingly mocked President Trump’s relationship with his family during an event at Yale Tuesday, suggesting that, unlike the president, he comes home to children who “actually love” him.

According to Yale Daily News, Bush was speaking at a talk sponsored by the school’s William F. Buckley, Jr. Program. During his speech, he pledged to not discuss the 2016 presidential election.

“I’m not going to talk about the 2016 election,” he said. “I’m still in therapy.”

Even so, he took time to criticize the president, calling him a “Republican in basically name only.” He also related that after the 2016 South Carolina Republican primary, he came home to children who “actually love me.”

In what was interpreted as a denouncement of President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, Bush said “The 21st-century conservative agenda cannot be nostalgic about the past.”

The president’s oldest sons took to Twitter to reprove the former governor, and Don Jr in particular went for the jugular:

David Hogg launches revenge campaign on Laura Ingraham after her tweet-slam goes viral

Jeb! I love everything about my father. I love that he’s a fighter, I love that he has guts, I love that he’s President (all those things you’re not)

Also love that he learned enough about politics in a few weeks to dismantle you piece by piece despite it being your life’s work https://t.co/4fcnA1AgAa

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) March 29, 2018

“Jeb!” Donald Trump, Jr. wrote. “I love everything about my father. I love that he’s a fighter, I love that he has guts, I love that he’s President (all those things you’re not).

“Also love that he learned enough about politics in a few weeks to dismantle you piece by piece despite it being your life’s work.”

Eric Trump’s response was more brief.

.@JebBush I actually love my father very much. #PleaseClap https://t.co/YZGyUAlUNi

— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) March 29, 2018

“@JebBush I actually love my father very much. #PleaseClap”

Bush has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration.

In May of last year, he called the president a “chaos president.” He has also been critical of President Trump for not doing more against Russia for its interference in the 2016 election.

Bush and then-candidate Trump sparred bitterly in the 2016 election, with the New York billionaire famously branding the fellow Republican “low energy.”

Weak and low energy @JebBush, whose campaign is a disaster, is now doing ads against me where he tries to look like a tough guy.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2015

Low energy candidate @JebBush has wasted $80 million on his failed presidential campaign. Millions spent on me. He should go home and relax!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2016

Hillary Clinton doesn't have the strength or stamina to be president. Jeb Bush is a low energy individual, but Hillary is not much better!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2016

Bush was viciously burned on social media.

They probably won’t when they grow up and find out what the bush family has done to America

— Bill (@williamlharbuck) March 29, 2018

Jeb Bush is PATHETIC and screams insecurity and desperation.

— CarlyJ ? ?? (@washte_chante) March 29, 2018

Color me shocked, Stormy Daniels’ lawyer utters the one sentence we were all waiting to hear

It’s good somebody loves you, Jebby, because you would have sucked at being President.

We chose the real leader. @realDonaldTrump

— Notsostout Julie (@notsostout) March 29, 2018

Nobody else can stand Jebbito.

— Jesse Helms (@goalinestand78) March 29, 2018

Whatever you say @JebBush
In reality they are embarrassed for you.

— A.Nonymous (@MyGovtIsTOOBig) March 29, 2018

The Bush era is over…I wish someone would tell them that.

— Hippie Chica #MAGA???#Trump2020? (@desertbloom7) March 29, 2018

Cheap shot but it’s from a Bush can’t expect better

— Trinity & Toby (@trinity_toby) March 29, 2018

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Luis Miguel

Luis Miguel is a South Florida-based writer covering politics, society, and culture.

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