Remember Super Bowl LI, Houston TX, Feb. 5, 2017? President Bush performed the coin toss. The referee addressed him as ... "President Bush". Not "Former president". President.

Video evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax5n_GsewIs#t=49

I don't recall any particular outrage at the time over the referee's form of address. I guess the Washington Examiner only sticks up for correctness when it comes to Democratic presidents.