Jenna Bush Hager Recalls Comedians Mocking Members of Her Family While Discussing Jimmy Kimmel: ‘That’s Part of the Job’

Jenna Bush Hager is no stranger to seeing her political family become the subject of late-night jokes.

The 43-year-old Today co-host is the daughter of former President George W. Bush and the granddaughter of former President George H.W. Bush.

On Wednesday, Sept. 24, Jenna shared her thoughts on Jimmy Kimmel’s return to television following the controversy over his remarks about President Donald Trump and the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Last week, an ABC spokesperson told PEOPLE that the network would be pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air “indefinitely,” leaving questions about the show’s future.

Kimmel came back on air Tuesday, Sept. 23, addressing the backlash and offering an emotional clarification.

“It’s important to me as a human. And that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” he said tearfully. “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.”

Jenna praised his statement during Today with Jenna & Friends. “I thought that that was beautifully done,” she said.

She added, “I long for a country where — and I feel like we can get back there — but where people that have different opinions sit at the same table and have conversations.”

The longtime morning show co-host also reflected on her own family’s experience with satire and political humor.

“I will also say that Freedom of Speech, and when he said, ‘A show like this that can make jokes at people in power,’ that’s part of what our country is founded on,” she explained.

She recalled how comedians like Dana Carvey famously impersonated her grandfather, George H.W. Bush, on Saturday Night Live.

“I remember reading stuff about him where I was like, ‘Oh gosh,’ like as a little kid, and, ‘That hurts and that’s not the man that I know,’ and that’s part of the job,” Jenna said. “Dana Carvey played my grandpa, and after he lost, my grandfather was devastated. He didn’t feel like he finished the job. He felt like he let down his staff… He had Dana come to the White House to make fun of him after he lost so he could cheer up his staff who was disappointed upon the results.”

She added that her family learned to laugh along, even when the jokes cut deep. “We laughed hysterically at some of it. And that’s part of it, too, is you can’t take yourself so seriously.”

Jenna also noted that during her years co-hosting Today with Hoda Kotb, they regularly reminded each other about the value of humor and connection.

“I feel so lucky to work at a show where people have different opinions and believe different things, watch, come together,” she said. “Hoda and I always said, and I remember, this is true, we used to make fun of ourselves.”

Even while keeping things light, Jenna said she and Kotb recognized their responsibility to their audience. “We let people take off the heavy backpack and have some laughs and some relief, and that’s a privilege.”

Following Kimmel’s reinstatement on ABC, President Trump reacted on Truth Social, writing that he “can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back,” and adding, “The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there.”