Jenna Bush Hager Recalls How Her Daughter 'Gaslit' Her with Queso: 'Her Mother's Famous Recipe'

Mar. 15, 2025

Jenna Bush Hager and Mila Hager.Photo: Helen Healey/NBC via Getty

Jenna BushHager’s oldest daughter cooked up a hilarious way to tease her mom.During Thursday’s episode ofToday with Hoda & Jenna, Bush Hager, 42, detailed how her 10-year-old daughterMilaused queso dip to retaliate after feeling left out of plans.“My eldest child, who will remain nameless, because she doesn’t like me to talk about her, she gaslit me via FaceTime,” the mom of three told her co-hostHoda Kotb. Bush Hager went on to explain how she and her sisterBarbaradined at one of Mila’s favorite spots, Taco Cabana, while traveling together.Jenna Bush Hager and Mila Hager.Jenna Bush Hager InstagramIn response, Mila made her own queso — “Her mother’s famous recipe…right on the back of the Velveeta,” Bush Hager clarified — and FaceTimed her mom to flaunt her delicious dip. The morning show personality demonstrated how Mila slowly ate each chip, making a show of savoring her “dripping” queso.Bush Hager added that Mila would pull the queso out of frame whenever “Auntie Barbara” was on the FaceTime call. TheTodayhost recounted how her daughter would change to a sweet demeanor upon seeing her aunt and say, “Oh, Auntie Barbara, I love you so much. I don’t want to tempt you.“Unsurprisingly, Mila continued enjoying her queso once her mom got back on FaceTime.“It’s so bizarre…I got gaslit. I get gaslit at least once a day,” theSisters Firstauthor said. When Kotb asked how she responds to the treatment, Bush Hager added, “I just try not to react. It’s hard.“Per her mom’s on-air storytelling, Mila has a determined personality. During a November broadcast, Bush Hager — who also shares daughterPoppy, 8, and sonHal, 4, with her husbandHenry Hager, 45 — shared how Mila put effort into askingfor a debit card.“We had said no. And we had said no. And we had said no,” she said onToday with Hoda & Jenna. “And then she did a PowerPoint presentation.“Jenna Bush Hager and her family.Jenna Bush Hager InstagramThe digital presentation included “why she was responsible enough now, and what chores she would do, and how she wanted to learn how to save and how she wants to buy presents for her siblings at Christmas on her own,” the proud mom explained.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“And at the end, Henry, who’s a pretty conservative spender, said, ‘Okay, Mila. You’ve earned it,'” she said of her husband.“That’s such a good life lesson,” Kotb told her friend and broadcasting partner.“She did it on her own,” Bush Hager agreed.

Jenna BushHager’s oldest daughter cooked up a hilarious way to tease her mom.

During Thursday’s episode ofToday with Hoda & Jenna, Bush Hager, 42, detailed how her 10-year-old daughterMilaused queso dip to retaliate after feeling left out of plans.

“My eldest child, who will remain nameless, because she doesn’t like me to talk about her, she gaslit me via FaceTime,” the mom of three told her co-hostHoda Kotb. Bush Hager went on to explain how she and her sisterBarbaradined at one of Mila’s favorite spots, Taco Cabana, while traveling together.

Jenna Bush Hager and Mila Hager.Jenna Bush Hager Instagram

In response, Mila made her own queso — “Her mother’s famous recipe…right on the back of the Velveeta,” Bush Hager clarified — and FaceTimed her mom to flaunt her delicious dip. The morning show personality demonstrated how Mila slowly ate each chip, making a show of savoring her “dripping” queso.

Bush Hager added that Mila would pull the queso out of frame whenever “Auntie Barbara” was on the FaceTime call. TheTodayhost recounted how her daughter would change to a sweet demeanor upon seeing her aunt and say, “Oh, Auntie Barbara, I love you so much. I don’t want to tempt you.”

Unsurprisingly, Mila continued enjoying her queso once her mom got back on FaceTime.

“It’s so bizarre…I got gaslit. I get gaslit at least once a day,” theSisters Firstauthor said. When Kotb asked how she responds to the treatment, Bush Hager added, “I just try not to react. It’s hard.”

Per her mom’s on-air storytelling, Mila has a determined personality. During a November broadcast, Bush Hager — who also shares daughterPoppy, 8, and sonHal, 4, with her husbandHenry Hager, 45 — shared how Mila put effort into askingfor a debit card.

“We had said no. And we had said no. And we had said no,” she said onToday with Hoda & Jenna. “And then she did a PowerPoint presentation.”

Jenna Bush Hager and her family.Jenna Bush Hager Instagram

The digital presentation included “why she was responsible enough now, and what chores she would do, and how she wanted to learn how to save and how she wants to buy presents for her siblings at Christmas on her own,” the proud mom explained.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“And at the end, Henry, who’s a pretty conservative spender, said, ‘Okay, Mila. You’ve earned it,'” she said of her husband.

“That’s such a good life lesson,” Kotb told her friend and broadcasting partner.

“She did it on her own,” Bush Hager agreed.

source: people.com