Ex-President George W. Bush took a veiled swipe at President Trump on Thursday and urged Americans to fight to maintain their democratic values.

“Bigotry seems emboldened. Our politics seems more vulnerable to conspiracy theories and outright fabrication,” Bush warned in remarks at the Bush Institute’s Spirit of Liberty event in New York, Politico reported.

The former president did not mention Trump by name, but pointedly slammed the current political climate.

“Bigotry in any form is blasphemy against the American creed and it means the very identity of our nation depends on the passing of civic ideals to the next generation. We need a renewed emphasis on civic learning in schools,” Bush said.

“And our young people need positive role models. Bullying and prejudice in our public life sets a national tone, provides permission for cruelty and bigotry, and compromises the moral education of children,” he added.

“The only way to pass along civic values is to first live up to them.”

The comments were the bluntest from the former commander-in-chief since Trump was sworn in on Jan. 20.