Chelsea Handler Recalls Meeting President George W. Bush While Stoned and Playing Pickleball

In an effort to remain on her best behavior, Handler said she took "a couple of edibles"

Chelsea Handler is opening up about the time she met former President George W. Bush — during a game of pickleball, and while she was stoned.

In a Friday interview on Today with Jenna and Hoda, the 48-year-old comedian said the interaction occurred when she was staying in Maine during the COVID-19 pandemic and met Bush's daughter (and Today co-host Jenna Bush Hager‘s sister) Barbara Pierce Bush.

"She came over, we’d do Pilates every day," Handler said of the former first daughter. "She was newly married to her adorable husband. And then one day she was like, ‘Come over to Kennebunkport for pickleball. This is when everyone was talking about pickleball."

Handler continued: "So, we go to Kennebunkport and I’m like, ‘Hey, Barbara. Politically I have outbursts and I can’t control myself sometimes.' I don’t think I should be going to Kennebunkport to meet their dad. Who knows what I’ll say?"

Related: Jenna Bush Hager Recalls George W. Bush's Poncho Problems at Trump Inauguration: 'You're Going Viral'

In an effort to remain on her best behavior, Handler said she took "a couple of edibles because I was in a situation where I had to behave myself," adding: "I have a very special relationship with drugs and I know exactly what I need and when I need it. And that was an instance where I thought it would be better if my personality was muted."

Despite being told by Barbara that the former president likely wouldn't be around, Handler soon met him in person.

"So we went and played pickleball and she said, ‘You won’t see my dad, you won’t see my dad, he’s getting a massage.’ And sure enough, we’re playing pickleball for 5 minutes and guess who trots on the floor?" Handler said. "And he goes, ‘Oh ho ho ho, the funny lady has arrived.' "

The rest of the interaction, Handler said, is "a long story," though she admitted, "I had to reveal to the former president that I was indeed stoned."

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Handler elaborated on her meeting with the former president in a 2022 episode of her Dear Chelsea podcast, telling Martha Stewart, her guest on the show, that the spontaneous moment ended with Bush offering her a tour of his compound.

Related: Jenna Bush Remembers When Future Husband Went Mountain Biking with Dad George, Who 'Left Him in the Dust'

“He dragged me into his house. He goes, ‘You’re not leaving.’ He goes, ‘Come look at all my artwork.’ And I had sunglasses on and he said, ‘I need you to take your sunglasses off.’ And I said, ‘I’m pretty stoned — so I think I’m gonna leave them on.'” Handler said.

She continued: “He looked at me and thought I was kidding again, which I wasn’t. And then shortly after, we were able to skidaddle out. But it was actually — he’s very charming in person.”

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