Bush returned to television on Monday night as the host of Extra, an entertainment show. In an interview with “CBS This Morning” with Gayle King airing Tuesday morning, Bush talks about the scandal that almost ended his career. He believed that “the tape’s release was the tipping point of the #MeToo movement.” He called this experience a good thing, and he doesn’t harbor any harsh feelings towards President Trump.
What We Know:
- Bush said the reason why he can’t blame President Trump for the loss of his job was because President Trump was being himself.
- Bush said, “No. I mean, he was being him. I think part of that personality and character was why he was successful in a boardroom, making people fight over lemonade stands.”
- Bush also said he didn’t feel the footage from Access Hollywood would be weaponized for political purposes. The video footage was leaked to the Washington Post two days before the presidential election between Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
- Bush also revealed that he received a phone call from his cousin the 43rd President George W. Bush after the tape was released. Bush recalled telling his cousin, “I’m so mad, I should fight back.” But the former president disagreed, he said, ‘Nope. Just, you know, take what they give you and walk away. And work on you.”
- Bush admitted that he grew up from this experience. “I think I needed to grow up a bit,” he added. “Even though I was, you know, in my 40s … some of the missing tools to be better at my job, I think I picked up.”
- Bush doesn’t feel like his return to television is a second chance. He says he is picking up the elements that he was missing years ago. He also said he has picked up empathy and patience especially in times where nothing is going right.
Bush, was also a co-host of the third hour of NBC’s “Today” before being fired in October 2016.
