It’s not every day that your kids grow up surrounded by Secret Service agents, but for Jenna Bush Hager, it’s just part of life. In a heartfelt conversation on Today With Jenna & Friends, Jenna revealed how her 11-year-old daughter Mila felt a little shaken during a recent visit from her grandmother, former First Lady Laura Bush. The presence of Secret Service officers, while routine for Jenna, proved to be a bit overwhelming for Mila.
“You can see it if you zoom in on Mila’s face. She looked pretty overwhelmed by the Secret Service,” Jenna, now 43, shared with guest cohost Savannah Guthrie. This was during the Monday, March 3, episode of Today With Jenna & Friends. Jenna pointed to a family photo where Mila’s expression spoke volumes. “If you look closely, you can tell she’s feeling some pressure. But let me tell you, she was thrilled to have her grandma here. We had such a great time together. Poppy made a ‘Welcome Grammy’ poster, and Hal ran down the stairs like a little tornado,” Jenna added, referring to her other children, Poppy, 9, and Hal, 4.
A Family Legacy of Secret Service Presence
In the photo, Mila stood next to her grandmother, former First Lady Laura Bush, who’s now 78. While Mila posed for the picture, her gaze was fixed nervously on her grandma. The Secret Service officers, though not visible in the frame, were undoubtedly nearby. Savannah Guthrie, 53, chimed in, noting the unique dynamic Jenna’s family has grown accustomed to. “Your kids have been around the Secret Service their whole lives. It’s all they’ve ever known,” Savannah remarked.
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“But do you ever feel like, as they get older, they start questioning it? Like, ‘Who are these people?’” Savannah wondered aloud. Jenna responded with a chuckle, recalling her mom’s recent trip to New York City. “Yesterday, there were some agents around, and Mila asked me, ‘Are you embarrassed by this?’ I told her, ‘No, Mila. I’m used to it.’ It’s just part of our life.”
A Look Back at Jenna’s Own Experience
Savannah then brought up Jenna’s own experiences growing up. “You had Secret Service following you through college because your dad, George W. Bush, was president. That must’ve been something,” Savannah said. Jenna nodded, reflecting on those years. “Yeah, it was definitely a unique experience. But even my engagement to Henry Hager in 2007 wasn’t exactly private. My dad and I got engaged with a Secret Service agent standing 100 feet away,” Jenna joked, drawing laughs from the audience.
Jenna admitted she hasn’t shared all her stories about growing up with Secret Service protection with Mila yet. “Maybe I should,” Jenna mused. Savannah agreed enthusiastically, saying, “You definitely should. I think Mila would love hearing them.”
Sibling Dynamics and Playful Threats
During Laura’s visit, Jenna’s daughters Mila and Poppy found a playful way to use the Secret Service presence to their advantage. “They like to scare Hal with fake policemen all the time,” Jenna explained. “So Mila told Hal, ‘These are Secret Service agents. They can arrest you.’ And Hal, bless his heart, said, ‘But I didn’t do anything! I’m innocent!’” Savannah chimed in with a smile, “He’s my little godson, and he’s absolutely innocent.”
Later in the show, Savannah playfully teased Jenna about expanding her family. “I had this dream last week that you were having baby number four,” Savannah joked. Jenna paused for a moment before responding, “Nope, nothing to announce. I’ve come to terms with the fact that three is the perfect number for our household, even if it’s not mathematically ideal.”
Jenna had previously mentioned in 2023 that she’d love to have one more child, but her husband, Henry Hager, put his foot down. “He says we’ve got three healthy kids,” Jenna recounted. “And honestly, after Hal’s birth, I had some health issues, so maybe three is just right for us.”
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