Bush: Kanye West criticism was worst moment of presidency

President Bush said that rapper Kanye West's racially charged criticism of his handling of Hurricane Katrina was the worst moment of his presidency.

During a 2005 charity telecast, West said, "George Bush doesn't care about black people." In his first one-one-one television interview since leaving the Oval Office, which will air Wednesday morning, Bush said that the comment was "a disgusting moment."

NBC's Matt Lauer: "You say [in your memoir] you told Laura at the time it was the worst moment of your presidency?"

Bush: "Yes. My record was strong I felt when it came to race relations and giving people a chance. And — it was a disgusting moment."

Bush is promoting his new memoir "Decision Points," which is set to be a week after the midterm elections on Nov. 9.

Some excerpts of the book, however, were leaked beforehand. 

Lauer asked Bush if he feels discomfort describing that as the worst moment of his presidency over Hurricane Katrina. The 43rd president said, "I also make it clear that the misery in Louisiana affected me, as well."

"There’s a lot of tough moments in the book. And it was a disgusting moment, pure and simple," he said.