President Bush Defends the ‘Indispensable’ Media in Rare Interview: ‘Power Can Be Very Addictive’

In a rare sit-down interview, President George W. Bush appeared live on the NBC Today Show this morning opposite Matt Lauer to discuss the current state of affairs in American politics. Dubya was asked directly about the role of the news media in today’s landscape, which is increasingly becoming a focal point of criticism under the administration of his Republican successor, President Donald Trump.

While Bush admitted, “the job’s a tough job,” he indicated that it is the essential right and duty of the free press to hold people in power accountable for their words and actions. At one point, he told Lauer directly that back in 2000, “You mattered a lot more!” meaning that a news outlet like NBC was one of the few main sources of disseminating trustworthy information. “Now there’s all kinds of information being bombarded out, and people can say things anonymously. It’s just a different world.”

“I consider the media to be indispensable to democracy,” the former president told Lauer. “We need an independent media to hold people like me to account. Power can be very addictive and it can be corrosive.”

As for the job that Trump has done in the White House, Bush said on Today, “I think you have to take the take the man for his word that he wants to unify the country.” Tonight, President Bush will also join Sean Hannity on Fox News for an exclusive interview.

Watch above, via NBC.

[image via screengrab]

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