Michelle Obama defends friendship with George W. Bush: 'Our values are the same'

Cydney Henderson | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Michelle Obama and George W. Bush share sweet friendship Former first lady Michelle Obama and former President George W. Bush share the sweetest bond.

Michelle Obama is opening up about her friendship with George W. Bush.

While the former first lady and the 43rd president may seem like an unlikely duo, each sitting at opposite sides of the political spectrum, the two have developed a dear friendship over the years and exchanged many pleasantries (and cough drops).

During an interview with the "Today" show 's Jenna Bush Hager, Bush's daughter, Obama said she has found common ground with the former president despite their opposing views.

"Our values are the same," Obama said. "We disagree on policy but we don’t disagree on humanity. We don’t disagree about love and compassion. I think that’s true for all of us."

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Obama's words mirror those of Ellen DeGeneres, who faced backlash for sitting next to Bush during a football game in October, a move that DeGeneres defended.

"I’m friends with George Bush. In fact, I’m friends with a lot of people who don’t share the same beliefs that I have," DeGeneres said at the time. "When I say 'be kind to one another,' I don’t mean only the people that think the same way that you do. I mean be kind to everyone."

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Watch part two of @MichelleObama’s interview with @jennabushhager about dropping her youngest daughter off at college, the 2020 election and her special friendship with former President George W. Bush. pic.twitter.com/wz9ZBAtpG6 — TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 10, 2019

Obama agreed with DeGeneres' stance, adding that many people often get "lost in our fear of what's different" instead of displaying kindness and bonding over similarities.

"I had the opportunity to sit next to your father at funerals – the highs and lows," Obama said. "We shared stories about our kids and about our parents."

Obama and Bush are often seated next to each other at official functions, including the funeral for George H.W. Bush last December and Sen. John McCain's funeral in September 2018.

"He is my partner in crime at every major thing where all the formers gather," Obama said on the Today Show in 2018. "So we’re together all the time, and I love him to death. He’s a wonderful man. He’s a funny man."

It was Bush's humor that the duo bonded over.

"She kind of likes my sense of humor,'' Bush told People in 2017. "Anybody who likes my sense of humor, I immediately like."

Contributing: Ashley May

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