Obama’s Greatest Hits: A presidency in review

Image+courtesy+of+Creative+Commons

Pete Souza

Image courtesy of Creative Commons

No matter how you feel about Barack Obama, you have to admit that his eight years in office have been an emotional rollercoaster full of history in the making. Obama, more so than other recent presidents, has also had the opportunity to take the plunge into social media, an endeavor that has led to priceless moments that the American public could never have predicted. As the inauguration of Donald Trump approaches, here are a few of Obama’s funniest, most revolutionary and most adorable moments during his time at the White House.

  1. He was America’s first black president, as well as the first president born outside of the contiguous United States.
  1. He made summer playlists. In both 2015 and 2016, Obama took to Spotify to create a daytime and nighttime playlist filled with his recent listenings. Highlights from the first summer playlist include Florence + The Machine’s “Shake It Out” and Frank Sinatra’s “The Best Is Yet To Come,” while year two features tracks from Chance the Rapper and the recently deceased Prince.
  1. He performed a snippet of the iconic “Thriller” dance at the 2016 White House Halloween Party with his wife, Michelle. The duo, who earlier in the evening had passed out candy to children at the White House, took to the stage with the zombie shuffling characteristic of the Michael Jackson hit. Watch their moves here.
  1. He’s best friends with his vice president, Joe Biden. Biden tweeted a photo on Obama’s 55th birthday depicting friendship bracelets that read “Barack” and “Joe,” the latest in the history of an adorable bromance spanning the past eight years. Their friendship (hopefully) transcends the roles of president and vice president — I know I’d like to see more of the pair after they leave office.
  1. He played basketball. Obama played guard for Punahou High School and continued the tradition while in office with Congressman, members of his cabinet and children.
  1. He signed the Affordable Care Act, dubbed Obamacare, into law in 2010, a 906 page act meant to reform healthcare in the United States. Although Obamacare wasn’t exactly successful, it was still a historic and defining moment in Obama’s presidency.
  1. He loves Michelle. Like, so much. The president and the first lady have continuously set an amazing example for kids everywhere with their loving and supportive relationship. The way he looks at her could make anyone melt.
  1. He used the phrase “If folks wanna pop off” during a news conference about ISIS in response to criticism of U.S. policy. If that’s not a prime example of a 21st century president, I don’t know what is.
  1. Following the creation and popularization of the “Thanks Obama” meme, Obama took matters into his own hands and participated in a Buzzfeed video where he thanked himself for not being able to fit his cookie into a glass of milk. Need I say more? Watch the full video for yourself here.
  1. He encountered a baby dressed like the pope at the 2015 White House Halloween Party and could not stop laughing. This is my favorite Obama moment simply because it shows a side of him that many people forget exists: the human side.