The former president took advantage of the cold call to promote his upcoming book

NEED TO KNOW

Jenna Bush Hager was put on the spot on Thursday, Sept. 17, when co-host Sheinelle Jones and the rest of the Today with Jenna & Sheinelle team asked her to call her dad, former President George W. Bush, live on air.

After sharing an early 2000s clip of Bush Hager calling her dad on The Ellen DeGeneres Show back in the day, Jones then asked, “Now that it’s your show… our show, can we call him again?”

Bush Hager replied, “Why do y’all like to prank me? Hoda [Kotb]’s done this to me before, too.”

She then called her dad on her cell phone, putting the speaker up to her microphone. The former president answered the call and Bush Hager warned him, “You’re on TV, Dad!”

“I’ve been trying to avoid that,” Bush quipped.

His daughter explained the context before noting that her dad has not yet met her new co-host, Jones.

“I have not met Sheinelle,” he admitted. “I’d like to shake her hand, but it’s a little difficult.”

Bush Hager then revealed a special connection between her dad and Jones’ dad.

“Sheinelle’s dad was a judge, and you actually appointed him,” Bush Hager shared of Jones’ father, Judge C. Darnell Jones.

“God, you gotta be kidding me!” the surprised former politician said. “That’s fantastic. He had to be a good man.”

And while he wasn’t interested in getting airtime, Bush decided to take advantage of the opportunity.

“Listen, I’m glad you called because I don’t know if you know this or not, but I’ve got a book coming out next month,” he said. “It’s called The Call of Freedom… And as a result of me taking this call, I’m hopeful I can convince you to help me sell the book.”

Bush Hager then tried to turn the pitch around, asking, “So are you gonna come here and be on our television show?”

“I would doubt that,” her father replied.

And when Bush Hager pointed out that her dad still needed to meet Sheinelle, he replied, “I’d like to at some point in time. But why don’t you and Michelle come down to Dallas?”

“Sheinelle, not Michelle!” Bush Hager corrected as Jones cracked up.

“That’s what I meant, Sheinelle,” he replied.

Bush ended the call with a thank you to Jones, saying, “Sheinelle, thank you for being such good friends with Jenna and I wish you girls all the best!”

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“Thank you for being a good dad to Jenna,” Jones replied. “I know you guys have a beautiful relationship and I just think you’re a good man.”

“Well, I appreciate that very much,” replied Bush, who is also dad to Jenna’s twin, Barbara Pierce Bush.