In a surprising move, former President George W. Bush has announced that he will not be endorsing any candidate for the upcoming presidential election. His office informed NBC News on Saturday that neither he nor his wife, Laura Bush, will be publicly endorsing a candidate or revealing their voting choices.

The statement from Bush's office emphasized that he retired from presidential politics years ago, distancing himself from the current political landscape. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to the news, while Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign declined to comment, referring to their Republican outreach efforts.

This news follows former Vice President Dick Cheney's announcement on Friday that he would be endorsing Harris for the presidency. Cheney, who served as vice president during Bush's administration, expressed deep concerns about Donald Trump, stating that he posed a significant threat to the nation's democracy and could not be trusted with power. Cheney's daughter, Liz Cheney, a former Wyoming Representative and outspoken critic of Trump, also announced her support for Harris.

During a press conference on Saturday, Vice President Harris expressed her gratitude for the Cheneys' endorsements, stating that it reflected a shared love for the country and a recognition of common values.

Notably, Bush's decision to remain neutral in endorsing a candidate marks a departure from his previous involvements in presidential elections. In 2012, he publicly backed Mitt Romney as the Republican candidate against former President Barack Obama. Similarly, in 2008, Bush endorsed the late Senator John McCain as the Republican nominee. However, in the 2016 election, neither Bush nor his wife voted for either major party candidate, choosing to abstain from publicly supporting Trump.

Since then, a number of prominent moderate Republicans and former Trump administration officials have broken ranks and endorsed Harris, despite their policy differences. The Harris campaign has actively sought support from Republicans, with more than two dozen prominent Republicans endorsing her last month. In addition, over 200 former staffers of both Bush presidents, McCain, and Romney signed a letter endorsing Harris for president in August.

As part of their effort to reach out to GOP voters, the Harris campaign has appointed a national Republican engagement director and launched the "Republicans for Harris" program, focusing on independent and moderate Republican voters.

With the absence of an endorsement from George W. Bush, the political landscape becomes even more unpredictable. As the election draws near, it remains to be seen how these endorsements, or the lack thereof, will impact the race for the presidency.