Jenna Bush Hager, co-host of Today, is setting the record straight about those frequent comparisons between her and her dad, former President George W. Bush. In a candid and comical moment, Hager joked that she’s not exactly thrilled when people say she looks just like her father, calling it “not a compliment.”
The 44-year-old TV personality recently interviewed her father and three other former presidents—Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Bill Clinton—for the History Talks program on the History Channel, marking the 250th anniversary of America. The conversation was aired on Today on April 20, with co-host Sheinelle Jones teasing Hager about the striking resemblance between her and her dad. Jones remarked, “You guys look just alike! I know everyone says it, but dang.”
Hager, ever the good sport, replied with a deadpan expression: “Well, sometimes that’s not a compliment, but I appreciate it.” She then added with a laugh, “I think my dad’s handsome, but when people say that I’m like, ‘I look like a man?’”
Hager’s comments had the Today crew cracking up, and Jones tried to explain that kids sometimes want to look like their parents as a way of showing their connection. Hager, however, humorously quipped, “OK, yeah, my dad is my father.”:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2)/bush-family-photo-041823-40a87e5e72194e648d11d7b022112733.jpg)
But it wasn’t just the family resemblance that made this interview memorable. The Today co-host also gave a glimpse into her relationship with her father, revealing that he’s always the joker. She shared a funny moment when her dad started poking fun at her past, recalling a time when she got a minor in possession of alcohol. “I’m like, ‘Hey, Dad. That’s not what we’re talking about here, bro. Roll it back,’” she laughed.
Hager also reflected on the optimism shared by all the living former presidents when it comes to the future of the country. “I think all of them are optimistic about where we’ve come,” she said. “They all think we live in a wonderful country and need to make sure we’re living up to those ideals.”
In a clip from the interview, President Bush shared his message for the country, saying, “Consider yourself fortunate to be a part of a great nation. Study our history so you have a better sense of what the future will be like, and be a citizen, not a spectator.”
Tune in for more from Jenna Bush Hager’s heartfelt and often hilarious interviews with her dad and the other former presidents, airing on Today on April 21.
