When it comes to addressing a high-ranking politician, formal titles are generally expected.
The same can be said for meeting a significant other’s parents—especially when that parent happens to be the President of the United States.
However, one of Jenna Bush Hager’s ex-boyfriends apparently missed the memo on both counts.
The Today show host recently shared a surprising anecdote on air during the February 17 broadcast.
Speaking with NBC correspondent Willie Geist, Bush Hager recalled a moment from her teenage years
when an ex-boyfriend decided to call her father, George W. Bush, “Big George.”
Understandably, Geist was taken aback. “He did? How long did that last?” he asked, clearly surprised that someone would address a sitting governor in such a casual manner.
Bush Hager admitted that the relationship endured for a while, though not necessarily because of her ex’s charm or tact. “He lasted a long time because he was handsome,” she confessed, adding that, in the moment, she knew the nickname was inappropriate but didn’t let it ruin their relationship. “It only works when you’re young, because when you’re in those moments, you’re like, ‘Oh god, this is not good.’ But you can somewhat brush it over.”
At the time of the incident, George W. Bush was serving as the governor of Texas, making the situation even more unusual. Geist pointed this out, emphasizing the audacity of a teenage boy casually greeting the state’s highest-ranking official with a nickname. “Your dad was also governor at that time,” he noted. “He was governor of Texas and some teenager is going, ‘What’s up, Big George?’ I’m impressed he lasted.”
Bush Hager laughed in agreement, admitting that her father probably wasn’t thrilled about the situation. “It was not good,” she reiterated.
Though that high school romance eventually ran its course, Bush Hager later found love with someone who likely took a much more respectful approach when addressing her father. In 2004, she met Henry Chase Hager while he was working on George W. Bush’s re-election campaign. Their relationship blossomed, and in May 2008, they tied the knot at the Bush family’s Prairie Chapel Ranch in Texas.
Now happily married for over 15 years, Jenna and Henry have built a life together, raising their three children—daughters Mila and Poppy, and son Hal. Given Henry’s close professional ties to the Bush family, it’s safe to assume that he never made the mistake of calling his father-in-law “Big George.”
Jenna Bush Hager’s amusing high school story serves as a reminder that teenage relationships often come with their fair share of awkward moments. While her ex’s bold nickname choice may have raised a few eyebrows, it ultimately became a humorous anecdote for the former first daughter to share years later. And while George W. Bush may not have been thrilled at the time, he can likely laugh about it now—especially considering that his daughter ended up with a partner who showed him the respect his title deserved.
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