Sept. 6, 2012
President Barack Obama waves on stage with daughter Malia Obama after accepting the nomination during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C.Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images
As president, Barack Obama bears many titles, but on Friday morning the one he bore most readily was that of proud parent.
He and the First Lady traveled to the tony Northwest Washington neighborhood that houses their daughters’ exclusive private school to watch their eldest, Malia, graduate from high school. While Malia won’t be whisking off to college in the coming months—the graduate opted to take a gap year before starting college at Harvard—the president has all but guaranteed he’d be weepy during the mid-morning ceremony.
“Malia’s school asked if I wanted to speak at commencement and I said no,” the president said in January. “I’m going to be wearing dark glasses … and I’m going to cry.”
Over the past seven years, Malia and her younger sister Sasha have grown up living at one of the most famous addresses in the country and, arguably, the world. Malia was just 10 when she moved into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and her transformation into a young woman has happened largely in the public eye. Throughout it all, though, her parents have said life has been “normal” for the 17-year-old and her younger sister.
“The surprising truth is that being in the White House has made our family life more ‘normal’ than it’s ever been,” President Obama wrote in MORE magazine last summer.
Malia Obama is graduating from the private Sidwell Friends School on Friday, growing up in the public eye of the White House.
Jan. 20, 2009
Then President-elect Barack Obama, his wife Michelle and daughters Sasha, right and Malia, on the podium moments before Obama was sworn in as the 44th president at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Malia, 10, wore a double-breasted periwinkle-blue coat with a blue-ribbon bow at the waist from Crewcuts by J. Crew. Chuck Kennedy—APApril 14, 2009
Malia walks their new dog Bo with President Barack Obama on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington.Ron Edmonds—APJune 25, 2009
Malia Obama with mother Michelle and sister Sasha, attend a luau hosted by the president on the South Lawn of the White House for members of Congress and their families. Haraz N. Ghanbari—APJuly 17, 2011
In this handout provided by the White House, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama with their daughters Sasha and Malia watch a World Cup soccer match from the Treaty Room office in the residence of the White House.Pete Souza—The White House/Getty ImagesSept. 6, 2012
President Barack Obama waves on stage with daughter Malia Obama after accepting the nomination during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C.Chip Somodevilla—Getty ImagesJan. 21, 2013
Malia and Sasha Obama arrive during the presidential inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. CapitoL in Washington.Win McNamee—Getty ImagesOct. 27, 2013
President Barack Obama walks with his wife Michelle Obama and daughters Malia Obama and Sasha Obama through Lafayette Park to St John's Church to attend service in Washington.Shawn Thew—Press Pool/Getty ImagesAug. 15, 2014
President Barack Obama and daughter Malia Obama ride bikes along the Correllus State Bike Path outside of West Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard, Mass.Rick Friedman—Press Pool/Getty ImagesNov. 26, 2014
President Barack Obama pardoned "Cheese" the Turkey, as his daughters Malia and Sasha watch a ceremony at the White House.Mark Wilson—Getty ImagesDec.14, 2014
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia pose with "elves" prior to the taping of "Christmas in Washington."Kristoffer Tripplaar—Press Pool/Getty ImagesSept. 22, 2015
President Barack Obama and his daughters Malia and Sasha greet Pope Francis upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.Andrew Harnik—APMarch 10, 2016
Malia Obama attends a State Dinner at the White House in honor of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and First Lady Sophie Gregoire Trudeau of Canada. Olivier Douliery—Pool/Getty ImagesMarch 22, 2016
First Lady Michelle Obama thanks embassy workers with her daughter Malia after dedicating two magnolia trees and a bench, at a small park in Plaza de las Armas, Old Havana, Cuba.Rebecca Blackwell—APMay 18, 2016
Malia Obama uses her phone at the swing and play set on the south grounds of the White House outside of the Oval Office in Washington. Pablo Martinez Monsivais—AP
