Armin Amiri Recalls Smoking with Bush Twins, Asking for Green Card in Surreal Encounter

Armin Amiri, now known for his role in HBO Max’s And Just Like That, reminisced about an unexpected encounter from his past when he was the doorman at the now-closed New York hotspot Bungalow 8. In an interview with Page Six Radio, Amiri recounted a surprising evening in the early 2000s when only four guests showed up out of 280 reservations—two of whom turned out to be former First Daughters Barbara Bush and Jenna Bush Hager, known for their party days.

Mistaken Identity Leads to Unexpected Night with Bush Twins and Green Card Talks

Initially, Amiri denied entry to the Bush twins, unaware of who they were. The situation changed when a Secret Service agent tapped him on the shoulder and informed him that he was turning away the daughters of then-President George W. Bush. After the revelation, Amiri quickly accommodated them and seated them at a table, jokingly noting how surreal the moment was.

Amiri shared that he ended up smoking a joint with the Bush twins during the evening. Seizing the moment, he brought up his struggles with obtaining a green card. One of the sisters promised to look into it, but Amiri chuckled that “nothing ever happened.” Despite the lighthearted atmosphere, it was a moment of hope for him, albeit one that didn’t materialize into real help.

From Presidents to Premieres: Amiri’s Green Card Hopes and Hollywood Career Journey

In his pursuit of a green card, Amiri also turned to former President Bill Clinton. When he approached Clinton directly, he was redirected to Hillary Clinton, who then passed him along to her assistant, Huma Abedin. Again, Amiri received vague assurances that they’d “do their best,” but ultimately, there was no resolution. He recounted the story with humor, showing no bitterness over the lack of follow-through.

Amiri’s days as a doorman are far behind him. Now a television actor, he portrays Ravi Gordi, a film director and love interest to Sarita Choudhury’s character Seema on And Just Like That. The third season of the Sex and the City revival premieres on May 29, marking another step in Amiri’s evolution from nightclub gatekeeper to screen star, with colorful stories from his past still in tow.