Jenna Bush Hager Recalls How She and Twin Barbara ‘Kept Prank Calling’ the Vice President’s Office at Age 5

Rachel McRadyWed, July 8, 2026 at 3:25 PM UTC

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Jenna Bush Hager and grandfather George H.W. BushCredit: Today; HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty -

Jenna Bush Hager shared a childhood story of prank calling her grandfather George H.W. Bush’s vice presidential office

Jenna and her twin sister Barbara repeatedly made the calls at age 5, leading to their parents being alerted

Jenna reflected on her close bond with her late grandfather, who later became the 41st president of the United States

Jenna Bush Hager’s childhood hangs included some unusual prank calling.

The 44-year-old daughter of former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush shared a hilarious story of her childhood antics with her twin sister, Barbara Pierce Bush, on the Wednesday, July 8 episode of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle.

“I didn’t get spanked — you remember, the ‘80s people did that — I didn’t get it, but I was very close because Barbara and I, we were 5, and we kept prank calling the vice president’s office,” Jenna recalled laughing.

Barbara Pierce Bush and Jenna Bush Hager with grandfather George H.W. Bush at the White House in 1989.Credit: Bettmann/Getty

At the time, Jenna’s grandfather, George H.W. Bush, was the vice president under Ronald Reagan. She and her twin happily called into his office as they tested out the childhood prank.

“We were like, ‘It’s da p-wes-i-dent.’ They were like, ‘What is happening?’ ” Jenna said of calling the vice president’s office. “My parents came home and we were actually at a friend’s house — Angie Butcher — I don’t know how we got the number. Sorry, Angie, I haven’t talked to you in 30 years. And my parents were so mad at us.”

Apparently, Jenna and Barbara repeated the offense numerous times, leading to her parents getting alerted.

“We kept calling my grandpa’s office over and over again being like, ‘Blah, blah, blah p-wes-i-dent,’ and hanging up,” Jenna recalled, laughing.

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George H.W. Bush went on to become the 41st president of the United States, serving one term from 1989 to 1993.

Jenna has often reflected on her close relationship with her late grandfather. In 2024, she shared a letter on the Today show, which she wrote to him after his death on what would have been his 100th birthday.

Former First Lady Barbara Bush, Barbara Pierce Bush, Jenna Bush Hager and former President George H.W. Bush in 2005.Credit: ROBERT SULLIVAN/AFP via Getty

“Dear Gampy, we miss you. We miss your letters and emails. We miss racing through the waves of the Atlantic on your boat — fishing, laughing, and debating around the dinner table,” she read at the time. “We miss your quiet compassion.”

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Earlier this week, Jenna celebrated her own dad, George W. Bush’s milestone 80th birthday with social media tribute posts and by giving him a special shout out on the air.

“Before we say anything else, can I just say happy 80th birthday to my dad?” Jenna asked during the live broadcast, before adding, “It’s his 80th birthday, and I texted him at the crack of dawn.”

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”