Jenna Bush Hager Says Dad George W. Bush Loves to 'Roast Her' — and Barack Obama Watched It Happen

Mar. 15, 2025

Jenna Bush Hager on ‘Today with Hoda and Jenna’.Photo:NBCUniversal

NBCUniversal

Jenna Bush Hageris remembering a time when her fatherGeorge W. Bushbecame an unexpected critic.

On the Monday, Sept. 23, broadcast ofToday with Hoda and Jenna, the talk show co-host, 42, spoke about her father teasing her at an event in front of major public figures, such asBarack Obama.

“I was in Houston and Austin and then I went to Los Angeles to be part of this A&E and History Channel’s History Talk conversation,” she said. “I was with my parents which is already really hilarious because [of] the dynamic.”

Jenna Bush Hager and George W. Bush on Tuesday, April 20, 2021.Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Although she was the moderator of the talk, the former president took control of the conversation.

“President Obama was there so we got to see him for a little bit. And he was like, ‘How do you do that? Why do you do this?’ " she said to her co-hostHoda Kotb’s confusion.

“President Obama said that to you?” Kotb, 60, asked for clarification.

Barack Obama speaks during the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 20, 2024.Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty

Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty

“He must have seen some of the roasting,” Bush Hager said of Obama’s reaction. “And he said, ‘This must be hard for you.’ And I said, ‘Yes it is.’ "

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Earlier this month, while discussing Supreme Court JusticeKetanji Brown Jackson’s latest book on the talk show, themother of threeadmitted that she andher twin sister Barbarabegged her father not to run for presidentin fear that he would lose.

“Unfortunately, when I was 16, my father sat my sister and I down and said, ‘Now listen, we really want your support, I’d like to run for president.’ [Barbara and I] broke down in tears,” she recalled.

“As only twins can do, we cried in unison,” she continued. “We said, ‘No!’ We said, ‘You’re going to ruin our lives, dad.’ And then we said, ‘And even if you run, you’re going to lose!' "

Bush Hager said that she has since apologized to him for her reaction.

source: people.com