George W Bush calls Jimmy Kimmel’s anti-Donald Trump Oscars gags ‘damn good’

In a jovial and rare TV appearance, Bush avoided mentioning Donald Trump by name but was led into a few subtle digs at him by Kimmel.

Among the slights was a compliment for Kimmel’s decidedly anti-Trump debut at the Academy Awards.

“I saw your opening. I thought it was damn good!” Bush said, adding that Kimmel was a “funny guy.”

During his opening monologue at the controversial Oscars ceremony, Kimmel landed several blows on President Trump about how he’d made the rest of the world “hate” America and described a divided country that no one could fix.

George W Bush on Donald Trump's inauguration

He then mocked Mr Trump’s assessment of Meryl Streep as one of Hollywood’s most “overrated actresses”, sarcastically piling on to her apparent mediocrity.

Mr Bush wholeheartedly approved of the roast.

Bush also pointed to Mr Trump’s obsession with the media and cable news, saying he didn’t have time to worry about those things when he was in office.

“You’re pretty busy, there’s plenty to do.”

Mr Bush also explained how he had always enjoyed attending the White House Correspondents Dinner — an event Mr Trump will not attend — and even used it as an opportunity to poke fun at himself.

“I love humour, the best humour is when you make fun of yourself,” President Bush said, carefully resisting Kimmel’s response: “Tell that to the president!”

George W Bush on impressions of him

Mr Bush said while he hadn’t watched Alec Baldwin’s skewering of Mr Trump on Saturday Night Live, he said he embraced the show’s imitations of him while he was in office.

When Kimmel asked if Mr Trump’s inauguration crowd was the biggest ever, Mr Bush laughed, saying, “I was there. I was the guy trying to put the poncho on!”