Back in the day, Jenna Bush Hager wasn’t too keen on the idea of being part of the “first family” when her dad, George W. Bush, announced his presidential bid. In fact, at just 16 years old, she and her sister, Laura, were so upset they burst into tears.
On September 3, 2024, Jenna, now 42, opened up to her stand-in co-host Sheinelle Jones about that pivotal moment. As they prepared to welcome Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Jenna drew a parallel between her own experience and a touching story from Jackson’s memoir. The Justice shared how she consulted her daughters before accepting the nomination, ensuring they were on board—an inspiring moment for both mother and daughters.
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Jenna reminisced that when her father asked for their support, she and Laura were quite skeptical. “We thought he was ruining our lives,” she confessed, jokingly adding, “And even if you run, you’re going to lose.” Looking back, it’s clear they were a bit dramatic, especially considering how close the Bush/Gore election actually was.
Jenna admitted her response was “horrible,” and they have since apologized publicly to their dad. Growing up in the public eye as First Daughters had its challenges, including facing criticism for typical college antics like underage drinking. In a 2022 conversation, Jenna revealed that her father has expressed regret over the impact these experiences had on her college years.