Jenna Bush Hager Gets Honest About Her Dad George W. Bush Comparisons: “It’s Not a Compliment”

Jenna Bush Hager is opening up about something that has always bothered her—being told she looks just like her father, George W. Bush. The Today show co-host addressed the constant comparisons during a recent segment, calling them out as “not a compliment.”

The moment occurred when Sheinelle Jones, a Today colleague, quipped that Jenna and her dad “look just alike,” following footage of Hager interviewing her father and other former presidents for the History Channel. While Jenna admitted she “appreciated” the remark, she made it clear that she doesn’t feel flattered by the comparison. “Sometimes that’s not a compliment,” she said, jokingly asking, “I look like a man?”

As the Today production team laughed off-camera, Jenna continued, “I think my dad’s handsome, but when people say that, I’m like, ‘I look like a man?’” She also pointed out that many kids want to look like their dads to prove their family connection, but still, she wasn’t buying the compliment.

The conversation turned lighthearted when Jenna recounted an amusing moment from her interview with her dad. “He started talking about when I got a minor in possession of alcohol, and I’m like, ‘Hey, Dad. That’s not what we’re talking about here, bro. Roll it back,’” she recalled, laughing off the awkwardness of discussing her underage drinking incidents.

Jenna’s relationship with her father has always been a topic of conversation, and she often shares stories about him on air since joining Today full-time in 2019. In the past, she’s discussed emotional moments with her father, such as when she called him in tears over the news of her co-host Hoda Kotb leaving the show in 2024.

Jenna’s close relationship with her father has also led to some candid moments, including her confession that George W. Bush has jokingly said he doesn’t watch “her dumb show.” Despite these playful remarks, it’s clear that the Bush family shares a special bond, with George W. making appearances on Today over the years, most recently in 2021.