George W. Bush heaped praise on Jimmy Kimmel for his anti-Trump opening monologue at the Oscars on Thursday night, telling the comedian enthusiastically that his performance was 'damn good'.

In a rare and lighthearted television appearance, Bush steered clear of mentioning the current president by name but was led into several subtle jabs at him by his mischievous host.

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!' he enthused, adding later that Kimmel was a 'funny guy'.

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George W. Bush laughed along as Jimmy Kimmel roasted President Trump on Thursday night, heaping praise on the comedian who he said was 'damn good' at the Oscars. He indulged his host by sketching a quick portrait of him during an ad break

The 70-year-old resisted Kimmel's repeated attempts to coax him in to slamming Trump by name but roared with laughter at some of his attacks

During his opening skit at the award ceremony Kimmel on Sunday 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.

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

President Bush, eager to portray his sense of humor on Thursday, appeared to wholeheartedly approve of the roast.

But Bush didn't stop there in allowing Kimmel to make pointed comparisons with the current commander-in-chief.

Unlike Trump who has complained incessantly about news networks and their coverage of him, Bush said he didn't ever watch television during office.

'You're pretty busy, there's plenty to do.'

He said he always enjoyed attending the White House Correspondents Dinner - something the current president boycotted - and even used it as an opportunity to poke fun at himself.

'I love humor, the best humor is when you make fun of yourself,' President Bush said, carefully resisting Kimmel's response: 'Tell that to the president!'.

While he admitted he hadn't ever watched Alec Baldwin in his role on Saturday Night Live, President Bush embraced the show's imitations of him while he was in office.

'Damn good': President Bush said he missed the catastrophic end of the Oscars but praised Kimmel's opening which was a stinging culmination of Trump jabs

KIMMEL'S OPENING SPEECH OSCARS JABS AT TRUMP Kimmel paid tribute to Trump foe Meryl Streep who took a bow at his request as he mocked the president's criticism of her 'This broadcast is being watched live by millions of Americans, and around the world in more than 225 countries that now hate us. And I think that is an amazing thing.' 'As you know, I don’t have to tell anybody, the country is divided right now. I’ve been getting a lot of advice. It’s time to bring people together. You have to say something. Let’s just get something straight off the top. I can’t do that. There’s only one “Braveheart” in the room, and he’s not gonna unite us either. Mel [Gibson], you look great. I think the Scientology is working. I really do.' 'You know, if every person watching this show — I don’t want to get too serious, but there are millions and millions of people watching right now — and if every one of you took a minute to reach out to one person you disagree with, someone you like, and have a positive, considerate conversation — not as liberals or conservatives, as Americans — if we could all do that, we can make America great again. We really could. It starts with us.' 'I want to say thank you to President Trump. I mean remember last year when it seemed like the Oscars were racist? It has been an amazing year for movies. Black people saved NASA and white people saved jazz. That’s what you call progress. 'We are here tonight to honor great actors but we’re also here to honor the actors who seem great, but actually really aren’t. And of all the “great actors” here in Hollywood, one in part has stood the test of time for her many uninspiring and overrated performances.' 'Meryl, stand up, if you would. Everybody please join me in giving Meryl Streep a totally undeserved round of applause, will you? ... Nice dress by the way. Is that an Ivanka?' Advertisement

Worlds apart: Bush resisted mentioning President Trump by name but allowed several subtle slights at him

'I love humor': Several times throughout the segment Bush described his host as a 'funny guy'

Good sport: Bush took part in an earlier bit where he was asked on the street to critique a child's picture they said he'd done. He later said he loved humor, especially if it was self-deprecating

At the start of the segment, the show presented children's paintings to people on the street and passed them off as the president's

He let out a roaring laugh when asked if he was jealous of President Trump's inauguration size but stopped short of mocking his claims it was the 'biggest ever'.

Instead, President Bush redirected the jest to himself.

'He's a great guy': Bush said it was a 'joyous moment' to watch his father, George H. W. Bush, perform the coin toss at this year's Super Bowl after a brief stint in hospital

'I was there. I was the guy trying to put the poncho on!' he laughed, recalling his scrambled attempt to take cover when the heavens opened during Trump's speech.

Unlike Trump, who last year slammed The Wall Street Journal, President Bush said he relied on the publication for his daily news.

The 70-year-old diplomatically resisted Kimmel's several attempts to have him chide Trump by name.

He did let out an enthusiastic laugh when asked if he was jealous of the size of the crowds at Trump's inauguration.

The former president shared several upbeat anecdotes from his time and office.

He laughed off a hunting accident which saw Vice President Dick Cheney shoot lawyer Harry Whittington in the face. 'Every time Cheney would come in, a lot of people would yell duck!'

He also revealed that prior to his marriage to former first lady Laura Bush, he once went on a date with Tricia Nixon, President Nixon's daughter.

Nixon was president at the time and Bush, then in his twenties, took her to a dinner thrown by his father.

President Bush also joked that after Dick Cheney shot lawyer Harry Whittington in the face in a hunting accident, he would yell 'duck' whenever he entered a room in the White House

It was the first time he'd ever been to the White House and he collected her in a purple Gremlin, he said.

'It was an arranged date by my dad. It was interesting. I pulled up in a purple Gremlin. I took her to a dinner.

Memory lane: Bush revealed how he took President Nixon's daughter Tricia on a date when he was in his twenties

'My dad had a dinner for Frank Bourman who was an astronaut from Houston and I took her.'

He made a brief reference to his father's health, winning applause from the studio audience when he revealed both he and his mother are 'doing great'.

George Bush Snr, 92, was admitted to hospital at the start of the year due to a respiratory issue that caused him to miss Trump's inauguration. He was released in time to flip the coin for the Super Bowl with his wife Barbara by his side.

Asked how they were, he said enthusiastically: 'Thank you for asking, they're both doing great.

'When he came out to flip the coin at the Super Bowl it was a very joyful moment. He's a great guy.'

The former president was on the show to promote his new book, Portraits of Courage: Commander in Chief's Tribute to America's Warriors.

The book is compiled of oil paintings by the former president of members of the Armed Forces.

'I was the guy trying to put on the poncho!' Bush laughed off his scramble to take cover from the rain at President Trump's inauguration

President Bush is promoting his new book, Portraits of Courage, which is compiled of 66 oil paintings of post 9/11 veterans

He shared several self-portraits, joking that he created the nudes to test his Democrat art teacher's sense of humor

President Bush has been doing the media rounds.

On Wednesday, he spoke about his fondness for former first lady Michelle Obama during an interview with People.

He said that he and Obama shared 'a genuine expression of affection' for one another during that moment when they were photographed embracing in Washington last September.

Bush said he developed a lighthearted rapport with the former first lady, who took a liking to his sense of humor.

'Anybody who likes my sense of humor, I immediately like,' Bush told People.

Bush said that he and Michelle Obama (right) shared 'a genuine expression of affection' for one another during that moment when they were photographed embracing in Washington last September

In July, Bush and Obama held hands while singing The Battle Hymn of the Republic during the memorial service for five police officers killed by a sniper in Dallas

Bush, 70, and Obama, 53, found time to strike up a friendship while seated next to one another during official events, like the recent opening of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture and Nancy Reagan's funeral.

At the museum opening, Bush and Obama were photographed in a warm embrace. The image went viral and is often considered the definitive snapshot of their relationship.

In July, Bush and Obama held hands while singing The Battle Hymn of the Republic during the memorial service for five police officers killed by a sniper in Dallas.

Bush was evidently swinging his arms and appeared to be enjoying himself, prompting some to criticize him for not acting appropriately during a solemn occasion.

'I can't remember where else I've sat next to her, but I probably have a few wise cracks and she seemed to like it okay,' says Bush.

'I needle her a little bit and around her, I'm fairly lighthearted. [The Obamas] are around serious people all the time and we just took to each other.'

The public relations blitz by Bush is aimed at promoting his latest undertaking - an exhibition of his oil paintings depicting US military veterans.

An exhibition of the portraits will open Thursday at the former president's library in Dallas.

All of the proceeds from Bush's book will go towards a veterans program run by his charity

The collection, on display at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Texas until October 1, features 66 portraits and a four-panel mural.

Bush's paintings pay tribute to the nearly 100 wounded or traumatized personnel who he has known personally since leaving the White House in 2009.

As the 43rd US president Bush had commanded the US military members, who all served in the wars he launched in Iraq and Afghanistan following the attacks on September 11, 2001.

The former commander-in-chief released on Tuesday a book titled 'Portraits in Courage: A Commander in Chief's Tribute to America's Warriors,' which includes images of the portraits and the veterans' personal stories.

Bush said he wanted to use the paintings and book to highlight the veterans' struggles with post-traumatic stress and the transition to civilian life.

He will donate proceeds from the book to The George W. Bush Presidential Center which helps post 9/11 veterans and their families adjust to civilian life.