--- title: Obama's Vacation Photo Memes, Internet Reactions description: Richard Branson shared footage of Barack Obama kitesurfing in the British Virgin Islands, and Twitter has many feelings on the matter. canonical: https://time.com/4662699/obama-vacation-reactions/ author: Raisa Bruner article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-02-07T16:47:54.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-13T12:14:20.000Z og:title: The Internet Is Going Wild for Obama's Vacation Photos og:description: "Obama just posed for the 'I'm doing great' pic" og:url: https://time.com/4662699/obama-vacation-reactions/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt52a9e6915b64e353/6988b914ab6d77ab826acc40/obama-virgin-islands2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1236 og:image:height: 695 og:image:alt: obama-virgin-islands2 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The Internet Is Going Wild for Obama's Vacation Photos twitter:description: "Obama just posed for the 'I'm doing great' pic" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt52a9e6915b64e353/6988b914ab6d77ab826acc40/obama-virgin-islands2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The Internet Is Going Wild for Obama's Kitesurfing Photos > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: Richard Vs Barack [Watch (HLS stream): Richard Vs Barack](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Xe6wq0nq.m3u8) (1:00)  _Published 2017-02-07. Former President Barack Obama is having the time of his life on vacation. As Washington grapples with President Donald Trump, the former Commander in Chief has been learning how to kitesurf with Richard Branson._  by [Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)  ## Raisa Bruner Updated: Dec 13, 2023 12:14 PM UTCPublished: Feb 7, 2017 4:47 PM UTC Former President Barack Obama is having the time of his life on vacation. As Washington grapples with President Donald Trump, the former Commander in Chief has been learning how to kitesurf with Richard Branson.  by [Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)  ## Raisa Bruner Updated: Dec 13, 2023 12:14 PM UTCPublished: Feb 7, 2017 4:47 PM UTC Barack Obama [took a well-earned break](http://time.com/4662331/barack-obama-richard-branson-necker-island/?xid=time%5Fsocialflow%5Ftwitter) from Washington, D.C. this month, spending time at Virgin founder Richard Branson’s Necker Island, a private and, by all accounts, idyllic tropical escape in the British Virgin Islands. He was spotted [wearing a backwards cap](http://time.com/4656707/barack-obama-vacation-photos/), bro-ing out with Branson, and kitesurfing up a storm in the azure waves. Branson even [shared some footage](https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/richard-vs-barack-kiteboard-and-foilboard-challenge) of the two dudes goofing around and testing their water sports acumen, both of them looking pleased as punch. As Branson [noted in a blog post](https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/richard-vs-barack-kiteboard-and-foilboard-challenge), Hawaii-raised Obama—a lover of water sports—had to set that particular interest aside during his presidency. But no longer. During their shared vacation, Branson learned to foilboard while Obama learned to kitesurf. The two even had a friendly competition in their new hobbies. (Obama won.) Naturally, the internet has plenty of feelings on this enviable midwinter getaway. Some are a little miffed that Obama has moved on so quickly from his eight-year-long super-serious relationship with America. > [](https://twitter.com/luckyturner/status/828957162982559744) > [](https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/828970764321832961) > [](https://twitter.com/B%5FObamaMemes/status/828986493125410817) > [](https://twitter.com/comeupshuffle/status/828986887662604288) > [](https://twitter.com/ReignOfApril/status/828955250740563968) > [](https://twitter.com/FreddyAmazin/status/829320641333583872) > [](https://twitter.com/jonnysun/status/829002528184492032) > [](https://twitter.com/MatthewACherry/status/829144144064897029) > [](https://twitter.com/dangitobama/status/829054228249399297) > [](https://twitter.com/EriElizS/status/829324834807103488) > [](https://twitter.com/FireinFreetown/status/828972020465618948) But others know that true love means being able to rejoice in your significant other’s happiness as if it were your own. > [](https://twitter.com/jordangerous/status/829000317828227073) > [](https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/828947345626767360) > [](https://twitter.com/apbenven/status/828989099830804482) > [](https://twitter.com/Hellaslammin/status/829334158191247362) > [](https://twitter.com/katlyncatubig/status/829332042332659714) ## Transcript [ MUSIC ]. 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