In a surprising confession, Jenna Bush Hager opens up about fake friends and why she refuses to tolerate dishonesty anymore .QN

Jenna Bush Hager is drawing a new line in the sand — and it doesn’t include “fake friends.” The Today with Jenna & Friends co-host opened up about how her circle has shifted with age during a candid on-air conversation with guest co-host Tyra Banks, reflecting a broader trend many viewers recognize: when priorities mature, some friendships don’t. Citing a recent interview in which Oscar winner Hilary Swank praised relationships rooted in honesty and durability, Bush Hager, 43, echoed the sentiment. “As you age, some of the things that felt good when you were younger don’t feel good,” she said, adding that she no longer has time for falsehood.

Banks agreed, admitting her own orbit is smaller than ever. The former supermodel recalled admiring ’90s icons like Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington from afar, and shared a warm memory of Kate Moss greeting her backstage at a Victoria’s Secret show — a moment that reminded her how cliquish the fashion world could feel. That experience, Banks said, reinforced her preference for authenticity over performance, likening industry socializing to “Halloween.”

Bush Hager also probed whether Banks remains tight with the supermodel set. Banks laughed off the idea, making it clear that genuine bonds have always mattered more than glossy proximity. The exchange underscored a shared thesis: fewer friends, deeper roots, clearer boundaries.

The hour wasn’t all gravitas. In a playful “Fake Off” segment with Bowen Yang, Bush Hager revisited a mischievous childhood episode from her White House years when her grandfather, George H. W. Bush, was president. As a first grader, she concocted a dramatic “kidnapping” tale to cover for staying late at school — a fib that Secret Service agents initially took seriously, prompting a sheepish apology from the future TV host. The anecdote landed with a wink to ’80s pop culture capers and a knowing nod to the universal kid instinct to dodge trouble.

Still, the day’s conversation kept circling back to the same grown-up theme: editing your life. Swank’s remarks — that honesty sometimes requires uncomfortable conversations and that she now reserves space only for people who can “be real” — resonated with both Bush Hager and Banks. It’s a rubric that extends beyond social calendars. Bush Hager, who married Henry Hager in 2008 and is mom to three, framed this friendship audit as part of the broader work of adulthood: protecting your time, energy, and values.

There’s a professional parallel, too. Swank noted she feels more creatively energized at 50 than ever, a reminder that saying “no” can unlock bigger “yeses.” Banks, who has continually reinvented herself from runway to boardroom to television, agreed that clarity about who (and what) deserves your attention can be a superpower.

For Bush Hager, that means embracing the small circle era — fewer invitations, more intention. And for viewers who’ve quietly stepped away from surface-level connections, her message landed like permission: growing up often means growing selective. In a culture that rewards virality, there’s something refreshingly countercultural about choosing substance over scale. As Bush Hager put it, life is simply too short for pretend.