Jenna Bush Hager Says Grandpa George H.W. Bush Took Her on a Disney Cruise After He Lost Reelection
“He thought it was a good way to transition,” the 'Today with Hoda & Jenna' host revealed of the 41st U.S. president
Jenna Bush Hager is remembering an unexpected family vacation she took after her grandfather George H.W. Bush lost the 1992 presidential election.
On Tuesday’s episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna, the hosts were joined by actor Joel McHale to play a game called “Hot Takes.” One topic, cruises, brought up some old memories for Bush Hager, 42.
After McHale, 52, admitted to going on a themed cruise as a child, Bush Hager chimed in to share her own experience, saying, “I actually did go on the Disney Cruise with my grandparents" — although she added that they didn't realize it would be themed.
Related: Jenna Bush Hager Remembers How She Once Took Grandpa George to See 'Bruno': 'I Didn't Know!'
Hearing her story, McHale expressed his shock at imagining Bush Sr. on a cruise with “3,000 other people.”
“And the president was just sitting there?” he questioned.
“No, he had lost the presidency and he thought a good way to transition would be to take us on the Disney Cruise,” she explained, laughing along with co-host Hoda Kotb.
Fascinated by the story, McHale joked that “this is the book I want to read” before following up with more questions for the former first daughter.
“So you’d go wait in line for a meal and they’d be like, ‘There’s the president. There he is,’” the Community alum asked, to which Bush Hager simply answered, “Yes, yes.”
“That’s amazing,” he responded.
Later in the segment, the two got back to talking about Bush Hager’s experience as the granddaughter and daughter of U.S. presidents. McHale joked that he was impressed when his dad worked in commercial real estate, while Bush Hager’s dad, President George W. Bush, was leading the country.
“Congratulations,” McHale told her. “Do you tell your husband, ‘You’re not the freakin’ president, so you could work a little harder!’”
Bush Hager replied, “Sometimes!”
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Bush Hager’s time in the White House has been a popular topic on the show. In December, she even FaceTimed her dad live to get his reaction to her and Kotb’s Christmas song.
“I thought you all were cute,” Bush Jr. said when he answered, before making a cheeky quip about the pair’s singing. “I thought your dance moves were well choreographed and I thought the sound guy did a good job of making sure your voices were subdued."
“Well thank you Dad, we appreciate it,” laughed Bush Hager.
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