Bono earned Obama’s praise for dodging Bush’s hug

LONDON - U2 frontman Bono has revealed that US President Barack Obama had praised him for evading a hug from former president George W. Bush. During an appearance on Jonathan Ross’ BBC talk show over the weekend, Bono said that after giving the keynote address at the 2006 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. last year, Bush went to give him a hug for a quick photo op.

Since they disagreed on many political issues, such as the war in Iraq, though he noted that Bush did triple aid to countries in need, Bono said he decided to “dodge the hug” and tried to “hide behind the podium”, Spinner.com reports.

The tactic worked and the “Vertigo” singer managed to get by with only a handshake. The incident seemingly went unnoticed by those in attendance except for then senator Obama.

“When I sat down I was sitting beside Senator Obama. And he just said ‘nice work with the hug dodge’,” Bono told Ross.