Barack Obama and his wife, former first lady Michelle, returned to the White House on Wednesday (7) for the unveiling of their official portraits, hosted by the current president, Democrat Joe Biden.
Large formal portraits of US presidents and first ladies adorn walls, hallways and rooms throughout the White House, and typically a former president returns for the inauguration during the term of his successor.
But the Obamas — who have remained popular since Barack left power more than five years ago — did not have this ceremony while President Donald Trump was in office. The Republican, before winning the election in 2016, was a longtime supporter of the “birther” movement, which falsely suggested that Obama was not born in the US.
Previous portraits of the Obamas that were unveiled in 2018 and placed in the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian museum in Washington have become a major tourist attraction.
“It’s great to be back,” Obama said at the ceremony, which drew many members of his administration back to the White House in what looked like a meeting.
The former president was painted by Robert McCurdy wearing a suit. Sharon Sprung painted the former first lady in a blue dress. The works were commissioned by the White House, and the artists selected by the couple.
The Obamas and Bidens became close during the Obama presidency, going through the ups and downs of their political and personal lives, including the death of Biden’s son Beau from cancer.
“There are few people I know with more integrity, more decency and more courage than Barack Obama,” Biden said at the inauguration ceremony. “Nothing could have prepared me more to be President of the United States than being by your side for eight years.”
Biden was Obama’s running mate for the Democrat’s two terms.
The portraits “will hang on the walls of the White House forever as reminders of the power of hope and change,” said First Lady Jill Biden, who also hosted the event.
According to Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association, it is up to the current president and the person who appears in the portrait to set a date for the ceremony, so there is no set schedule in advance.
Obama hosted former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, for the unveiling of their portraits in 2012, during his first term.
Obama has returned to the White House once since leaving office, joining Biden in April for an event to publicize his public health legislation, known as Obamacare.
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