George W. Bush’s daughter jokes Obama is 'bad influence' on dad after inauguration laugh

Article content

There was a lot going on at Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, from Carrie Underwood’s music accompaniment to Elon Musk cementing his power in Washington.

But one thing some people spotted was an exchange between Barack Obama and George W. Bush.

Obama is seen laughing with Bush as he says something during Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, leaving many wondering what they were joking about.

Bush’s daughter, Jenna Bush Hager, revealed that the family’s text chain has been going off since then.

“You all already guessed what moment has been blowing up our family group chat,” the Today host said on Tuesday’s episode.

“Yeah, my dad went viral for these cutaway shots during yesterday’s broadcast,” she said. “The internet’s obsessed with this little smile and goofy expression.”

Bush Hager said the assumption was that her father “must have made eye contact with somebody,” adding that it wasn’t all her dad’s doing.

“You guys, you can’t just blame him because it looks like my dad was also seated next to a bad influence,” Bush Hager said of Obama.

“Take a look at what former President Barack Obama had to say,” she said, before a clip of the 44th president appeared on screen.

A lip reader told the New York Post that upon greeting Bush, Obama said, “Good to see you. How can we stop what’s happening?”

Hager Bush said of the two former presidents, “I just love how when they’re together, they become unusual friends.”

She added that her 78-year-old dad “goes viral for basically anything,” noting that that’s just “what his face looks like.”

Other than the exchange, Hager Bush said her father was “very well-behaved.”

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video

Following Trump’s inauguration, the Washington Post’s Emily Davies asked Obama, 63, if he behaved during the event, to which Obama replied, “Just barely.”

Earlier in the day, a staffer asked Bush if he was “going to behave” as Bush and wife Laura Bush entered the rotunda when Obama weighed in with a quick “nope.”

“They’re pals,” Bush Hager told viewers.

“I think it shows that even in divisive times, we have so much more that unites us. So let’s just pray for that.”