President Trump raised eyebrows Thursday night when he criticized the "thousand points of light" slogan coined by former President George H.W. Bush.

During his speech at a rally in Montana, Trump said "thousand points of light" was a lesser slogan than his motto, Make America Great Again.

"What the hell was that, by the way, thousand points of light? What did that mean? Does anyone know?" Trump asked the crowd.

"I know one thing: Make America Great Again we understand. Putting America first we understand. Thousand points of light, I never quite got that one. What the hell is that? Has anyone ever figured that one out? And it was put out by a Republican."

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The remark drew a lot of reaction on Twitter, interpreted as a swipe at the 94-year-old former president, whose wife Barbara Bush passed away in April.

This is so uncalled for. Going after a 94-year-old, former President’s promotion of volunteerism. I don’t mind potus being a fighter. I do mind him being rude. https://t.co/Hr0d20Wuzz — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) July 6, 2018

Trump's making fun of Bush's "thousand points of light" last night could overtake "build the wall" as my fav part of his stump speech. — Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) July 6, 2018

How pathetic of @realDonaldTrump to trash President George H.W. Bush’s effort to tout volunteerism. My mom was one of those Thousand Points Of Light in Houston. So what the hell was it, Donald? An effort to recognize people who care about their communities. This man is despicable https://t.co/Fm6n4YGFvM — rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) July 6, 2018

.@GeorgeHWBush, soldier, servant, president, a thousand points of light, representing a thousand ways people could serve and share. He should not be demeaned by #POTUS. @GeorgeHWBush beloved veteran, like @SenJohnMccain has earned respect of Americans everywhere. #KeepHopeAlive pic.twitter.com/LYCGchX0D9 — Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) July 6, 2018

Taking a shot at 94yr old, wheelchair bound @GeorgeHWBush, war hero, a man who dedicated his life to serving this nation, is another really shitty thing to do. Trump said he doesn't understand what "a thousand points of light" even means. That's not a surprise.@PointsofLight — Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 6, 2018

Bush 41 often encouraged Americans to act as a "thousand points of light" in an effort to encourage service and volunteerism. The slogan, coined in 1988 in an address by Bush, was later used by the Bush family to start the nonprofit Points of Light Foundation.

Some wondered whether the jab at the Bush family was a signal that Trump may choose not to nominate Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh was nominated to the Washington, D.C. Appeals Court by George W. Bush in 2003.

Kavanaugh, said to be among the finalists along with Amy Coney Barrett, Thomas Hardiman and Raymond Kethledge, was a former loyal aide to Bush who served as a White House lawyer and staff secretary.

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