My man George
Early on in the exclusive sit-down, the former president expressed a clear-eyed support for the news media, saying a free press was "indispensable to democracy."
"We need an independent media to hold people like me to account," Bush told TODAY'S Matt Lauer.
"Power can be very addictive and it can be corrosive, and itās important for the media to call to account people who abuse their power."
RELATED: George W. Bush highlights military veterans in new book 'Portraits of Courage'
Bush was asked about the media's role in light of President Donald Trump's recent characterization of the media as the "enemy of the American people." He noted he spent a lot of time during his two terms trying to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to embrace an independent press.
Nathan Congleton
"Itās kind of hard to tell others to have an independent free press when weāre not willing to have one ourselves," he said.
Bush also addressed the controversy over Trump advisers and the role they may have played in the scandal involving Russian hackers who tried to intervene in the election, saying he would leave questions about whether a special prosecutor should investigate up to the Senate intelligence committee leaders.
RELATED: Chuck Todd: John McCain is concerned Donald Trump ācrossed the lineā about media
āI think we all need answers,ā he said, going to on praise North Carolina Senator Richard Burr, the head of the U.S. Senate intelligence committee. āIām not sure the right avenue to take. I am sure, though, that that question needs to be answered."
Bush, the last Republican to occupy the White House, also was asked about President Trump's controversial executive order that banned immigrants from predominantly Muslim nations.
Asked pointedly if he favored or opposed the policy, Bush said, "I am for an immigration policy that is welcoming and upholds the law."
Bush won the 2000 presidential election after one of the most contentious and controversial decisions in American history. He took office after a divided Supreme Court ruled over a dispute involving a contested recount in Florida.
share link
Hear the stories of the veterans behind George W. Bush's 'Portraits of Courage'
PLAY VIDEO - 8:55
Hear the stories of the veterans behind George W. Bush's 'Portraits of Courage'
PLAY VIDEO - 8:55
Early on in the exclusive sit-down, the former president expressed a clear-eyed support for the news media, saying a free press was "indispensable to democracy."
"We need an independent media to hold people like me to account," Bush told TODAY'S Matt Lauer.
"Power can be very addictive and it can be corrosive, and itās important for the media to call to account people who abuse their power."
RELATED: George W. Bush highlights military veterans in new book 'Portraits of Courage'
Bush was asked about the media's role in light of President Donald Trump's recent characterization of the media as the "enemy of the American people." He noted he spent a lot of time during his two terms trying to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to embrace an independent press.
"Itās kind of hard to tell others to have an independent free press when weāre not willing to have one ourselves," he said.
Bush also addressed the controversy over Trump advisers and the role they may have played in the scandal involving Russian hackers who tried to intervene in the election, saying he would leave questions about whether a special prosecutor should investigate up to the Senate intelligence committee leaders.
RELATED: Chuck Todd: John McCain is concerned Donald Trump ācrossed the lineā about media
āI think we all need answers,ā he said, going to on praise North Carolina Senator Richard Burr, the head of the U.S. Senate intelligence committee. āIām not sure the right avenue to take. I am sure, though, that that question needs to be answered."
Bush, the last Republican to occupy the White House, also was asked about President Trump's controversial executive order that banned immigrants from predominantly Muslim nations.
Asked pointedly if he favored or opposed the policy, Bush said, "I am for an immigration policy that is welcoming and upholds the law."
Bush won the 2000 presidential election after one of the most contentious and controversial decisions in American history. He took office after a divided Supreme Court ruled over a dispute involving a contested recount in Florida.
share link
Hear the stories of the veterans behind George W. Bush's 'Portraits of Courage'
PLAY VIDEO - 8:55
Hear the stories of the veterans behind George W. Bush's 'Portraits of Courage'
PLAY VIDEO - 8:55