Will Ferrell tricked George W. Bush into thinking he made this gaffe

Mission accomplished.

“Saturday Night Live” alum Will Ferrell recalled how he managed to convince former President George W. Bush he said the word “strategery.” In fact, the term was first uttered as part of an “SNL” parody on “Bushisms” — words mispronounced by the 43rd president during his campaign and tenure.

Ferrell reprised his famous Bush impression Monday while promoting his new movie, “Spirited,” on “Today with Hoda & Jenna.”

While in character, Ferrell said, “Here’s a funny story. I didn’t realize that I never said ‘strategery.’ Someone else wrote that.”

Co-host Jenna Hager Bush confirmed that “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels broke the news to Bush that he didn’t originate the term.

Will Ferrell on the "Today" show
Will Ferrell appeared on “Today with Hoda and Jenna” on Monday.
NBC
"Spirited" cast on "Today" show
He was there to promote his new film “Spirited” with his co-stars and ended up reprising his famous George W. Bush impression.
NBC

“Lorne Michaels told my dad, ‘You never said that,’” Hager Bush told Ferrell. “And [my father] said, ‘What? I spent all those years [thinking I’d said it].’”

“But you knew all along,” she shot back to Ferrell.

“Oh, I knew all along,” Ferrell said, before apologizing to the former president.

Bush recalled the “strategery” conversation with Michaels during a 2017 appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

Darrell Hammond as Dick Cheney, Will Ferrell as George W. Bush on "SNL"
Ferrell parodied Bush in the early 2000s on “SNL.” Here he is in character with Darrell Hammond as Dick Cheney.
NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Will Ferrell as George W. Bush on "SNL"
While playing Bush, Ferrell made the “strategery” gaffe. The impression was so good, Bush was convinced he said the word first.
NBCUniversal via Getty Images

“[Michaels] said, ‘No, you didn’t say strategery,’” Bush said. “I said, ‘I damn sure said strategery!’ He said, ‘We invented it.’ And I said, ‘Well, let me ask you this? Did [the writer] come up with misunderestimate?’”

He actually made that remark in Arkansas in 2000 — the same year “strategery” debuted on “SNL.”

source: nypost.com