White House photographer Pete Souza documents the Commander in Chief’s overseeing of the raid on Osama bin Laden’s Pakistan compound
The White House, May 1, 2011
Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama, along with members of the national-security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House on May 1, 2011. Please note: a classified document seen in this photograph has been obscured.Pete Souza / The White House
Focus
President Obama listens during one of a series of meetings in the Situation Room of the White House discussing the mission against bin Laden on May 1, 2011. For 40 minutes, the President and his senior aides could do nothing but watch the video screens and listen to the operation and ensuing firefight on the other side of the world.Pete Souza / The White House
Intel
While sitting next to National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, President Obama makes a point during one of the bin Laden meetings in the White House Situation Room on May 1, 2011.Pete Souza / The White House
Mission Successful
The President talks with members of the national-security team at the conclusion of a meeting discussing the bin Laden mission on May 1, 2011.Pete Souza / The White House
Conversation
President Obama talks on the phone in the Oval Office before making a statement to the media about bin Laden on May 1, 2011. The President made a series of calls, including to former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton and others, to inform them of the successful mission.Pete Souza / The White House
The Right Words
The President edits his remarks in the Oval Office prior to making a televised statement detailing the mission against bin Laden on May 1, 2011.Pete Souza / The White House
Addressing the Nation
Obama delivers his statement on the mission against bin Laden from the East Room of the White House on May 1, 2011.Pete Souza / The White House
Team Members
Senior Administration officials listen as Obama delivers his statement in the East Room of the White House on May 1, 2011. Seated, from left, are James Clapper, director of national intelligence; National Security Adviser Tom Donilon; CIA Director Leon Panetta; Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden.Pete Souza / The White House
Afterward
President Obama shakes hands with Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in the Green Room of the White House, following his statement detailing the mission against bin Laden on May 1, 2011.Pete Souza / The White House
