Jenna Bush Hager did not appreciate her Today show co-host telling her she looks like her dad, former president George W. Bush.
Bush Hager, 44, was promoting her upcoming interviews with four former presidents—her father, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Bill Clinton—to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary, on Today’s fourth-hour show, Jenna & Sheinelle. Her co-host, Sheinelle Jones, 48, tried to say something sweet about Bush Hager and her father, both of whom had just been pictured on screen to promote the special.
“God, you guys look just alike, too,” Jones said. “I know everybody says it, but dang.”
The longtime Today host was not flattered. “Well, sometimes that’s not a compliment,” she told Jones, whose mouth dropped at the unexpected reaction, “But I appreciate it.”
Jones added, “I think it is!” but Bush Hager explained, “Well, I think my dad’s handsome, but when people say that, I’m like, ‘So, I look like a man?’”
Jones, who was named Bush Hager’s permanent co-host in December after a year of guest co-hosts following Hoda Kotb’s departure last January, tripped over her words as she tried to explain why it’s a good thing for offspring to look like their father.
“No, no, listen, for kids who, you know, sometimes…” she began, before ultimately telling Bush Hager that resembling her father makes it certain that she is, indeed, a Bush. “We’re sure it’s you,” Jones said.
“OK, yeah, my dad is my father,” Bush Hager said, looking at the camera as the behind-the-scenes crew cracked up off camera.
Bush Hager’s interviews with the former presidents will air on Today on Tuesday.
