--- description: 10 times President Obama confirmed that he was not only the Commander-in-Chief but also the Dad-in-Chief. title: 10 of Barack Obama's Ultimate Dad Moments image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Newsfeed](/tag/time-section-newsfeed/) ## Newsfeed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # 10 Times Barack Obama Confirmed He Was the Ultimate Dad-in-Chief  by [Cady Lang](/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 6, 2017 3:31 PM CUT  by [Cady Lang](/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 6, 2017 3:31 PM CUT President Obama will give his farewell address Tuesday in Chicago, and while he has been [the leader](http://time.com/4621778/barack-obama-congress-obamacare-health-care-repeal/ "undefined") of the free world, he’s also a [dad to Sasha and Malia](http://time.com/4533841/president-obama-imitates-sasha-malia-phones/ "undefined"). That means he’s just as practiced in diplomacy as he is at [cracking jokes that might make you grimace](http://time.com/4581815/president-obama-turkey-puns-thanksgiving-pardon/ "undefined"). In honor of his presidency, here’s a look back at 10 times that President Obama confirmed he was not only the Commander-in-Chief but also the Dad-in-Chief. Remember the time that President Obama imitated his daughters texting on their cell phones during a speech? Extra dad points for miming taking a selfie. But make no mistake, Obama is not a regular dad — he’s a cool dad, which means that he knows how to use Snapchat. Being a cool dad, however, doesn’t make Obama exempt from the inevitable “dad jokes,” which he really got carried away with at a memorable Thanksgiving turkey pardoning. In fact the jokes got so out of hand that one time, he even had to reassure a baby that he wouldn’t tell any more of them. And like any true dad, he does not shy away from a nice beige suit for summer days, which made such an impression on the nation that the press briefing he gave has henceforth been known as “Suitgate.” > [](https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/557702053930479617) Obama also enjoys shopping at the Gap, which is peak dad retail. > [](https://twitter.com/marykbruce/status/443483217430335488) Remember that time he danced to “Hotline Bling” with Usher at the White House? Obama’s all about showing off his dance skills. He also loves to sing, and doesn’t shy away from embarrassing this daughters to wish them a very happy birthday. Most importantly, Obama’s not afraid to shed a tear or two when talking about his daughters. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4621362/barack-obama-best-dad-moments/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4621362/barack-obama-best-dad-moments/"},"headline":"10 Times Barack Obama Confirmed He Was the Ultimate Dad-in-Chief","datePublished":"2017-01-06T15:31:34.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:39:52.401Z","description":"In honor of the Dad-in-Chief","url":"https://time.com/4621362/barack-obama-best-dad-moments/","keywords":["Newsfeed","Entertainment","Barack Obama","politics","President Obama","malia obama","Culture"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Cady Lang","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/cady-lang/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4621362/barack-obama-best-dad-moments/","name":"10 Times Barack Obama Confirmed He Was the Ultimate Dad-in-Chief"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"President Obama Imitating His Daughters on Their Phones Confirms That He’s the Ultimate Dad","description":"In the ultimate dad move, President Obama took time during a speech at Washington, D.C.-based Benjamin Banneker Academic High School to give his best impersonation of his daughters on their cell phones.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/aBN3qVD6/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2016-10-17T20:03:48.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/aBN3qVD6.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4621362/barack-obama-best-dad-moments/","duration":"PT1M11S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4621362/barack-obama-best-dad-moments/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Watch President Obama Pardon His Final Thanksgiving Turkey","description":"Last year, he pardoned two twin male turkeys named Honest and Abe","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/ZympRIMY/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2016-11-23T20:24:57.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/ZympRIMY.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4621362/barack-obama-best-dad-moments/","duration":"PT2M13S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4621362/barack-obama-best-dad-moments/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"The Top 7 Political Dance Moves","description":"The people that run government aren't that smooth on the dance floor...","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/3vO7g8xG/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2014-01-14T22:56:58.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/3vO7g8xG.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4621362/barack-obama-best-dad-moments/","duration":"PT1M2S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4621362/barack-obama-best-dad-moments/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"President Obama Sings \"Happy Birthday\" to Malia at the White House Fourth of July Party","description":"Flanked by rapper Kendrick Lamar and singer Janelle Monae, who performed on the night, Obama proceeded to lead the crowd in a chorus of “Happy Birthday” to his eldest daughter Malia, who happens to be born on America's Independence Day and turned 18","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/Gzal8jFO/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2016-07-05T14:33:03.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Gzal8jFO.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4621362/barack-obama-best-dad-moments/","duration":"PT38S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4621362/barack-obama-best-dad-moments/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```