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Before Jenna Bush Hager became a fixture on the “Today” show in 2009, she was no stranger to the spotlight, often for her youthful escapades as one of former President George W. Bush’s daughters. Her adventures, such as eluding Secret Service detail to meet her boyfriend, were the stuff of tabloid fodder for years. Now, as a co-host of the fourth hour of “Today” alongside Sheinelle Jones, Jenna has cemented her place in morning television. However, whispers of behind-the-scenes drama continue to follow her, suggesting that not all is harmonious among the “Today” team when the cameras aren’t rolling.
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A particularly viral rumor swirls around Jenna and fellow “Today” star Samantha Guthrie. Despite their real-life friendship, the two had a tense on-air moment when Jenna jokingly criticized Guthrie for not inviting her to her 2014 wedding. This exchange seemed more than just a passing awkwardness, with Guthrie reportedly expressing her frustration, saying, “We can’t do this again,” as noted by journalist Rob Shuter on Substack.
According to Shuter, Guthrie was “furious” about Jenna bringing up the wedding snub on television and had repeatedly asked her to let it go. “She’s begged Jenna to drop it, but Jenna keeps poking,” a source revealed to Shuter in August 2025. “It’s gone from playful to mean,” the source continued, adding that Jenna’s persistence was causing genuine tension.
Jenna’s apparent knack for stirring the pot doesn’t end there. Rumors also suggest that her relationship with other “Today” co-hosts might not be as friendly as it appears. Hoda Kotb, for instance, cited her daughter’s Type 1 diabetes as the primary reason for stepping down from “Today with Hoda & Jenna.” Yet, some gossip sources have speculated that Jenna played a role in facilitating Hoda’s dramatic exit, despite Jenna visibly tearing up during Hoda’s final episode in 2025.
Unfortunately for Hager, this isn’t the only suggestion that she and her “Today” co-hosts aren’t as chummy as they seem.
Did Jenna Bush Hager push Hoda Kobt out?
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Hoda Kotb has said that the need to care for her daughter, who has Type 1 diabetes, was a major catalyst for leaving “Today with Hoda & Jenna,” which she hosted with Jenna Bush Hager. However, gossip blogs have suggested that Hager, who cried after Kotb’s last episode in 2025, actually orchestrated Kotb’s messy exit behind the scenes.
According to a Radar source, Kotb let go of the role because of cliquey behavior from Hager and Savannah Guthrie. They also alleged that Hager, who hadn’t yet tapped Sheinelle Jones for “Today with Jenna & Sheinelle,” was nervous that “Today” execs would get rid of her for a more famous star like Scarlett Johansson to secure stronger ratings.
Of course, gossip from anonymous sources should be taken with a grain of salt, but it hasn’t helped the rumors that Hager doesn’t get along well with her colleagues. Unsurprisingly, fans have also speculated endlessly about this topic. On Reddit, for example, one fan pointed out the awkward energy between Hager and Carson Daly, who contributes to “Today” as a feature anchor. In a broader discussion about how they felt Daly wasn’t happy with the job, one user wrote, “I knew Jenna got on his nerves but the body language.” A second seemed to agree, writing, “Oh I know he like never wants to engage with her and its quite funny.”