Former President George W. Bush is criticizing President Donald Trump's first month in office, though he remains optimistic about the future.

"I don't like the racism and I don't like the name-calling and I don't like the people feeling alienated," Bush told People magazine.

"Nobody likes that."

Despite the "ugly" political climate under Trump, Bush says he's "more optimistic than some."

"We've been through these periods before and we've always had a way to come out of it," he said.

Bush added that he won't be speaking out against Trump often. His presidential center, however, will be doing work to contrast Trump's policies.

"When President Obama got elected, friends would call: 'You must speak out! You must do this, you must do that.' Turns out, other people are doing the same thing this time," he said.

"I didn't feel like speaking out before because I didn't want to complicate the job and I'm not going to this time. However, at the Bush Center we are speaking up."

The Bush Center programs include immigration ceremonies, AIDS prevention programs in Africa and leadership training for Muslim women.

Bush's interview with People has been one of several in recent days in which he has commented on Trump.

The former president is doing a press tour to promote his book of portraits of American soldiers who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.