As an 8-year-old during a White House event for 9/11 first responders’ families, Pete Davidson asked then-President George W. Bush for advice. Bush’s answer — “Stay in college” — stuck with him, especially as Davidson later spoke about how his father, Scott Ma
Pete Davidson doesn’t remember George W. Bush’s advice the way you’d expect—like a grand motivational speech. Instead, he remembers it as something quick, specific, and a little strange, the kind of line that lands harder when you’re still just a kid.
It happened when Davidson was 8 years old. He. his 4-year-old sister. Casey. and their grandfather Stephen Davidson ended up in the Oval Office during a White House event. The gathering was for the families of first responders who died in the 9/11 attacks—and that included Pete’s father. Scott Matthew Davidson. who was 33 at the time.
Casey fainted at the event. Then-First Lady Laura Bush picked her up, and the family was taken to the Oval Office, where they interacted with the president. Davidson later recalled the moment on the “Netflix Is a Joke” podcast, saying even his grandfather captured it on camera.
“Mr. President, do you have any advice for my grandson?” Davidson asked.
He then reenacted Bush’s response: “Heh-heh. Stay in college.”
The advice has sat inside Davidson’s larger story about loss and the way grief can rearrange everything—often long after the day it happens. In September 2025, he talked about the impact Scott’s death had on him during an appearance on the “This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von” podcast.
“I was really young, so I didn’t even really know what the f*** happened. And [my father’s death] hit me later, like when I was in college. I was like, ‘Oh, I’m pretty angry about this,’” he said.
Davidson has been open about his mental health struggles for years, saying the pain stems from Scott’s death. He’s also joked about it during his acts, but on The Pete Davidson Show he returned to the emotion beneath the humor—explaining how Scott’s heroism became a standard he says he can’t reach.
“I’ll never top that. Like, ‘You died in the most heroic way possible. You’re cemented as like a hero.’ So I have this unbelievable chip on my shoulder, where I’m just like, ‘No matter what I f******* do, it’ll never be there,’” Davidson said.
He described how. for the first two years after Scott died. he didn’t process it the way most people would. “Pete also noted that he spent the first two years after Scott’s death thinking his father was still alive. “I was just like. ‘He’ll come back.’ Because that was my first. like. learning of death… I almost fantasize of what he actually was. where I’m like. ‘Well. he’s a hero’… I don’t know if I’ve created this person in my head or if that was what he was actually like. ” he added.
Scott’s memory still shapes Davidson today, including in the way he built a family of his own. Davidson honored his father by naming his first child—a daughter he welcomed last year with former girlfriend Elsie Hewitt—Scottie Rose Hewitt Davidson.
Pete Davidson SNL George W. Bush Laura Bush Oval Office Netflix Is a Joke This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von The Pete Davidson Show Scott Matthew Davidson Casey Davidson Elsie Hewitt Scottie Rose Hewitt Davidson
Stay in college like it’s that easy lol. George W Bush always seemed weird.
So his dad died and he asks Bush for advice? idk, I feel like that’s messed up timing. Also Casey fainted??
Wait I thought this was about 9/11 first responders and then it turned into like a comedy podcast thing. I’m confused why he’s reenacting it with a heh-heh. Like was Bush actually joking?
My uncle met Bush once and he said pretty much the same thing, like stay in college, don’t waste time. Not even surprised. Kinda wild that a camera was there too, but yeah grief makes stuff stick. Pete’s sister fainting sounds like the whole White House event was chaotic.