Jenna Bush Hager, co-host of Today With Jenna & Friends, shared a candid glimpse into her college years and dating life during a conversation with guest host Regina Hall. 

The two discussed various topics, including Hall’s amusing crush on the Dalai Lama and Bush Hager’s own experiences with dating. 

One topic that particularly caught attention was Bush Hager’s reflections on her college years, and how her life was uniquely influenced by the Secret Service following her father, 

George W. Bush, becoming President of the United States.

When Hall inquired if Bush Hager had “fun” while dating her husband, Bush Hager, who met her spouse when she was 25, responded with a heartfelt admission. 

She confessed that while she had “fun” dating her husband, she wished she had dated more people before meeting him.

 “I had fun when I dated my husband, I wish I dated more people,” she revealed. The comment surprised some of the crew, prompting Bush Hager to clarify, “I meant before! When I met my husband, that was it.”

This admission of wishing she had more dating experiences before settling down wasn’t a reflection on her love for her husband, but more of an acknowledgment of the unique challenges she faced during her college years. She explained that the presence of the Secret Service made her feel “restricted” in her dating life.

Bush Hager’s father, George W. Bush, became president when she was only 19 and attending the University of Texas at Austin. With Secret Service agents regularly accompanying her, she felt the weight of their presence and how it impacted her ability to freely explore her romantic life. “I felt a little restricted by Secret Service men, if I’m really honest. So, I kept my numbers low,” she shared.

The Secret Service was a constant presence in Bush Hager’s life during her father’s presidency, and it extended to even her romantic experiences. She added that when her now-husband, Henry Hager, proposed to her, a Secret Service agent was even present at the proposal. While she didn’t get the full college dating experience, Bush Hager seemed to accept it with a certain level of understanding. She laughed and added, “Oh well.”

Regina Hall, in response to Bush Hager’s reflections, jokingly suggested that Bush Hager’s college dating “numbers would have stayed low no matter what” due to not being “in the right mind” at the time. “You got the right one early,” Hall added, giving her a playful compliment for finding her husband so early in life.

Despite the humor in their exchange, Bush Hager maintained that she wished she had experienced a bit more fun during her younger years. “I felt too restricted, but you know what? Oh well,” she remarked with a smile. It was clear that while she may have felt a bit of longing for the typical college dating life, she had found fulfillment in her later years with her husband, whom she has now been married to for 17 years.

In fact, Bush Hager mentioned that she and her husband would be celebrating their 17th wedding anniversary in May, an occasion that would mark another milestone in their long-lasting relationship. However, the Today crew’s lack of applause following this announcement left Bush Hager slightly amused. “Nobody clapped, but that’s good,” she quipped, acknowledging the casual and private nature of their celebration.

While the conversation was lighthearted, Bush Hager’s openness about her college years provided insight into the pressures of growing up under the watchful eye of the Secret Service, and how those circumstances shaped her experiences as a young adult. It also allowed fans to see a different side of the Today host, as she candidly reflected on a chapter of her life that many can relate to, especially those navigating their romantic lives during the early years of adulthood.

In the end, Bush Hager expressed no regrets about the path her life had taken. Despite wishing for a little more freedom during her college days, she is clearly content with the family she has built, her long-lasting marriage, and the journey she took to get there. Through it all, she remains grounded, embracing the present and the future with the same humor and grace she brings to her Today audience every day.

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