Jenna Bush Hager has welcomed dozens of celebrity guests to sit beside her on Today with Jenna & Friends — but there’s still one person she hasn’t managed to book: her father, former President George W. Bush.

During the November 19 broadcast of Today, Bush Hager opened up about the surprising resistance she’s gotten from her father when she has invited him to appear on her show. What began as a playful segment about Bush’s unexpected appearance on ESPN’s ManningCast quickly turned into a revealing — and very funny — glimpse into the family dynamic of one of America’s most well-known political families.

Bush, now 79, recently Zoomed into the popular broadcast hosted by Peyton and Eli Manning to talk football, painting, and life after the presidency — all from the comfort of his Texas art studio. And that’s exactly the point, Jenna joked.

“I’ve asked him more than once,” she revealed. “Maybe I should just start asking him on TV so he can’t avoid it! Since he’s my dad, after all…”

Her co-hosts laughed — but they all agreed that the former president rarely pops up on television anymore. And Bush Hager could only shake her head with mock frustration.

“He told me he was retired,” she said. “So you can imagine how surprised I was to see him on a Monday night football show.”

Savannah Guthrie suggested that a trip to New York might feel like too much of a hassle for a retired president — which could explain why he’d rather chat football on Zoom than fly to NBC Studios. Al Roker then offered a compromise: Why not bring the show to him?

Bush Hager wasn’t convinced the travel budget would allow such a production, though Craig Melvin jumped in to insist the show could make it happen for a former commander-in-chief: “We’d find a way,” he said confidently.

But even if they did, Jenna was doubtful the plan would work.

“He says things like, ‘I don’t watch your dumb show,’” she quipped — leaving everyone at the table cracking up, including Carson Daly, who jokingly replied, “That’s exactly why we love him!”

While President Bush hasn’t yet joined Jenna & Friends as a co-host, Jenna has not lacked support from her family. Her twin sister Barbara Pierce Bush has stepped in multiple times. Her husband, Henry Hager, has made appearances. Several of her cousins have visited the set as well.

And her mother — former First Lady Laura Bush — has joined her both for lighthearted chats and more meaningful interviews. Most recently, Laura appeared alongside Barbara for a special segment earlier this year.

The former president, however, seems to be choosing his TV moments more selectively.

Despite his teasing comments, George W. Bush has appeared on Today multiple times over the years. He has even sat down with both Jenna and co-host Hoda Kotb in the past — including in 2021 for a segment addressing immigration issues. He has also participated in several emotional interviews alongside his father, the late President George H. W. Bush.

During one family-focused moment celebrating Jenna’s role as a journalist and advocate, Bush spoke fondly and proudly of his daughter:

“You take time to understand the issues,” he told her, “and you’re not afraid to speak your mind.”

Still, that praise has not translated into a willingness to join her daily talk show, at least not yet.

Bush is now better known for his love of painting and his life in Texas than his time behind the Resolute desk. On ManningCast, he laughed easily with the Manning brothers and shared that retirement suits him — a life of hobbies and humor rather than the spotlight.

So perhaps it makes sense that he would stick to roles that require only a webcam and a relaxed shirt, rather than a flight to New York and a professional makeup chair.

Jenna takes the rejection in stride — and keeps the jokes coming. When asked whether she plans to pressure him further, she smiled mischievously:

“Well, he’s my dad. So yes.”

The playful banter between Jenna and her father is nothing new. Over the years, she has spoken openly about how humor is a defining part of their bond — one that helped them navigate the intense scrutiny of public life and politics.

She has even said she wishes he were sometimes a little more like retired NFL star Jason Kelce — fully dedicated in every family moment, cheering loudly in the stands. But even then, her affection for him is obvious.

Their teasing feels more like a shared language than a disagreement. If anything, it makes their relationship more relatable — reminding audiences that even former first families deal with the same quirky family politics as everyone else.

Her producers might not want to bet on it just yet — but if there’s one thing Jenna Bush Hager has shown in her broadcasting career, it’s persistence.

And now that the whole country knows exactly how stubborn the former president can be about TV appearances, the public pressure might just work in her favor.

If George W. Bush eventually walks onto her set — whether in New York or via a Texas-style remote broadcast — it will almost certainly become a moment worth remembering.

And until then? The jokes will keep coming.

“He says he doesn’t watch my dumb show,” Jenna repeated with a laugh. “But I bet he hears about it.”