Jenna Bush Hager Sends Her Love To Dick Cheney’s Daughters On ‘The Today Show’: “Public Grieving Can Be Very Difficult”

Jenna Bush Hager addressed the recent passing of former Vice President Dick Cheney on The Today Show, noting that herself and her family have several ties to the late politician.

Cheney, who served as vice president for Bush Hager’s father, George W. Bush, passed away Monday evening at the age of 84 “due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease,” according to a statement from the family.

While sitting with her colleagues on The Today Show, Bush Hager sent her love to Cheney’s daughters, Liz and Mary Cheney, noting that she can relate as the daughter and granddaughter of politicians.

“Of course, I think everybody is waking up and thinking about his family,” she said. “When you hear of a politician who passes, there’s tons of coverage about what they are like as a politician, but as a daughter of a politician, as a granddaughter of a politician, I just am thinking of his daughters and who they are missing which is not necessarily a man who casts votes, but rather a man who raised them.”

She continued, “So I am thinking of Mary and Liz this morning, who I’m going to reach out to as well just to send my love, and I know my parents are thinking the very same.” 

Bush Hager did not address Dick’s controversial reputation, but she reminded viewers that his family may have a very different perspective of his legacy.

“I think public grieving can be very difficult because there’s a lot about who the person is as a public figure, but very little about who they are as a dad, as a granddad, as a husband, and so I’m thinking of his family,” she said.

She notably did not address the news during the 10 o’clock hour she hosts, despite former First Lady Michelle Obama joining her as a guest host.

Bush Hager’s parents released a joint statement, remembering Dick as a “decent, honorable man,” per Fox News. Dick served as Bush’s vice president from 2001 to 2009.

“History will remember him as among the finest public servants of his generation — a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence and seriousness of purpose to every position he held,” the statement reads.

“Laura and I have shared our deepest sympathies with Vice President Cheney’s wife, Lynne, and their daughters and granddaughters of whom he was so deeply proud,” the statement concludes. “We are praying for Lynne, Liz, Mary and the Cheney family as they honor a great man.”