Obama and Biden reunited at White House for unveiling of presidential portrait

President Biden welcomed his old boss back to the White House Wednesday for the unveiling of the presidential portrait of Barack Obama, the nation’s 44th commander-in-chief.

Obama was joined by former First Lady Michelle Obama for the couple’s first joint appearance at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, where they resided from 2009 through 2017. A portrait of Michelle Obama by artist Sharon Sprung was also introduced at the historic reunion.

It’s been a decade since the traditional unveiling of a presidential portrait took place. Prior to Wednesday’s event, a presidential portrait was last hung on a White House wall in 2012, when the Obamas welcomed George W. Bush and Laura Bush back to the home they’d occupied for the eight years prior to handing over the keys to the nation’s 44th president and his family.

First Lady Jill Biden was also on hand Wednesday to greet the Obamas.

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Wednesday’s ceremony took place in the East Room, which is where Obama presented Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2017 before leaving office.

Artist Robert McCurdy, a “photorealist” whose works often resemble photographs, painted the 44th president’s portrait. The Pennsylvania native has also painted Muhammad Ali, Nelson Mandela and Toni Morrison. His Obama portrait features the two-term president standing in front of a white backdrop, wearing a black suit and grey tie. The former president joked that his portrait was maybe “precise” to a fault.

“He captures every wrinkle on your face, every crease in your shirt,” Obama said of McCurdy’s work. “You’ll note that he refused to hide any of my gray hairs — refused my request to make my ears smaller.”

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While the Obamas’ portrait unveilings marked a return to tradition, it also signified a White House first: never before has a Black president and first lady had their portraits displayed in the executive mansion.

The former first lady said Wednesday that despite having lived in the White House, she was struck by the feeling of returning to the historic residence and seeing her portrait looking back at her.

“Traditions like this matter, not just for those of us who hold these positions but for everyone participating in and watching our democracy,” Michele Obama said.

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The unveiling of a predecessor’s portrait was one of many national customs in which former President Donald Trump did not participate. He also skipped Biden’s 2021 inauguration, which was preceded by an attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump loyalists. The 45th president continues to falsely claim he won the 2020 election.

In attendance for Wednesday’s unveiling were Obama’s former chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, former senior advisers Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod, and former attorney general Eric Holder.

President Biden praised Obama for being one of “the most consequential presidents in our history” and added he could not have done that without the support of his first lady.