Ellen Degeneres made George W Bush seem almost human (VIDEO)
During a rare media appearance on the Ellen Show, former US President George W Bush appeared almost human.
In the interview, the 43rd US President joked that he was aware that he failed to correctly manoeuvre a plastic poncho at the inauguration of President Trump.
He also spoke of his friendship with Michelle Obama, and warned that Putin would “push and push until somebody stands up to him”.
The 70-year-old also danced with Ellen on the show, which aired on Thursday.
The former President appeared on the show to promote his new art book titled ‘Portraits of Courage: A Commander In Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors’.
Bush told Ellen of his friendship with Michelle Obama: “That surprised everybody, that’s what’s so weird about society today, that people on opposite sides of the political spectrum could actually like each other.
“But you’re closer to her than Barack?”
“Well let’s put it this way – he’s never given me a hug that way.”
DeGeneres later presented Bush with a plastic poncho with the words ‘This End Up’ scrawled in huge letters on the front.
“It’s genetics!” the former president said when presented with a photo of himself struggling with the poncho, followed by one of his mother also struggling with a similar garment.
But on a more serious note, Bush spoke of the current political climate, saying: “I think this isn’t the first time our nation’s ever been divided.
“I remember what it was like when I got out of college. There was a Vietnam War and a draft, there were major race riots, there were political assassinations, the President was nearly impeached and a lot of people thought the country was going down the tubes. And it turns out we’re too strong to go down the tubes. And so I’m very optimistic.”
Despite saying that he wanted to remain “off the stage” in terms of politics, he did weigh in on the need for a “free and independent press” saying the White House’s relationship with the media is “symbiotic”.
But he did add: “Don’t ask me to spell it”, joking that he’d dropped in “a big word”.
“I used to tell some, you know, a lot of these tyrants when I would visit with them as president that they needed to have a free press,” he continued.
“And I would point to our country as an example where, you know, power doesn’t make you immune to criticism or to corruption investigations and so, I’m a big believer in the free press just like I’m a big believer in free religion.
“You can worship or not worship and you’re equally American. It doesn’t matter how you worship or who you worship.”
Bush added that he struggled with his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that he had mocked his dog, Barney, a Scottish Terrier.
During a rare media appearance on the Ellen Show, former US President George W Bush appeared almost human.
“He looked at him like… ‘You think that’s a dog?’ Anyways, so a year later, Putin said, ‘Would you like to meet my dog?’ Laura and I were with Putin in this Dacha outside of Moscow and she said yeah, I would like to meet him.
“And out comes a giant hound kind of loping across the yard and Putin looks at me and says bigger, stronger, and faster than Barney. And you know, it speaks volumes when you listen to what somebody says. So, in other words, he’s got a chip on his shoulder.
“And so yeah, I had a contentious relationship with him and I think whoever the president is, is going to find out that Putin will push and push and push until someone stands up to him.”
Elen then asked: “So Trump should get a hound”, to which Bush responded: “Not bad.”
Check out the video below:
