Originally appeared on E! Online
Jenna Bush Hager is letting some presidential secrets slip.
The “Today” host revealed that her dad, former president George W. Bush, is not quite an avid supportive viewer when it comes to her hosting gig of more than 16 years.
Admitting that she has often asked her dad to join her as a guest host on “Jenna & Friends,” Jenna Bush Hager confessed on the Nov. 19 episode of the morning talk show, “He says things like, ‘I don’t watch your dumb show.’”
Her fellow cohosts Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin and Carson Daly howled with laughter at the president’s admission, with Daly adding, “That’s why we love him.”
But after seeing the 43rd President appear on a recent episode of Peyton Manning and Eli “Manningcast,” Bush Hager is hoping to once again try and convince her father to join her on “Today,” saying, “I’ve actually asked him, and maybe I’ll do a public ask for him to come and be a friend since he’s my father.”
The 43-year-old — who shares kids Mila, 12, Poppy, 10, and Hal, 7, with husband Henry Hager — added, “He said he was retired so I was surprised as anyone to see him on Monday night.”
As Savannah noted, however, it might have been easier to get the politician to agree to the “Manningcast” appearance as he didn’t have to travel to New York and was able to Zoom in from the comfort of his own art studio in Texas.
But that gave Roker an idea, with him positing, “Why don’t you go to Texas and do the show from there?”
“Love is infinite, and there’s always room for more.”
And though it caused Bush Hager to ask, “Do we have that kind of money?” Melvin quipped, “I feel like for a former president we could find it.”
In a worst case scenario, Roker suggested grabbing a “couple of iPhones,” even offering to join Bush Hager for the interview.
And while she was grateful for all the suggestions, Bush Hager laughed, “I’m sure he’ll still say no.”
President Bush’s “Today” viewing habits have often been a topic of conversation on the daytime show, with former host Kathie Lee Gifford even asking him during a 2017 appearance if he watched his daughter everyday.
“No,” he replied, with Bush Hager jumping in, “Dad, you’re supposed to say yes. Remember, last night — you do watch me some.”
But as President Bush noted, “She said everyday.”
He did confirm that he watched Bush Hager on the show “occasionally,” emphasizing that he was extremely proud of her.
He and wife Laura Bush—who are also parents to Bush Hager twin sister Barbara — expanded on that pride during a 2021 appearance.
“I never imagined she would be a star,” he gushed, “and we’re very proud of her and love her.”
