On Tuesday, the American public came together to elect a new president. After a grueling election cycle, and perhaps even tenser election night, Donald Trump became the 45th president-elect of the United States of America. For some, the news is cause for celebration. For others, it’s a signal to flee for Canada. Either way, with this election season at a close, I can’t help but notice the flurry of tweets bidding immediate farewells to President Obama. People, he’s still president for two more months.
For a lot of students, Obama has been around for a sizable portion of our lives. I remember I was in fifth grade when he first became elected, and I skipped school to watch the 2009 inauguration with my family and friends. Since then, he’s managed to simultaneously bring in both unending criticism and unending praise. Some people really want him out of office, yet others might be legitimately weeping to see him go. No matter what side of the aisle you fall on, though, one thing’s for sure — Obama is without a doubt the coolest president we’ve ever had.
I’m not talking politics here. I mean humor-wise. Chill-wise. Human being-wise, our current president is pretty dope. So, in honor of the eight years he served in the Oval Office, here are eight pieces of pretty solid evidence that Obama just so happens to be the chillest president ever.
8. Literally Any Single White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Alright, we’re going to start off pretty broadly here. The correspondents’ dinners are always hysterically comical because the president typically uses them as an excuse to either make fun of himself or throw some serious shade at his opponents. Obama’s last one literally ended with him dropping the microphone and declaring “Obama out.” It’s definitely worth the Google search.
7. Jimmy Kimmel’s Mean Tweets — President Obama Edition
At this point, Obama is the king of self-deprecation. And while watching celebrities read off mean tweets about themselves may not sounds totally enthralling, with Obama’s witty comments it’s actually pretty entertaining.
6. Things Everybody Does But Doesn’t Talk About, Featuring President Obama
Ah, Buzzfeed. Whenever there’s a seemingly pointless yet funny video in need, it always seems like Buzzfeed’s got it covered. Such is the case with its video “Things Everybody Does But Doesn’t Talk About,” which displays Obama and what is assumed to be a White House aide side by side working through silly morning routines. Of course Obama has to stumble over his healthcare speech a few times — what’s the point of him being in a video aimed toward millennials if he doesn’t at least try to appeal to them?
5. 5 Things That Are Harder Than Registering To Vote, Featuring President Obama
Another Buzzfeed favorite. Earlier this year Obama appeared yet again on the social entertainment company’s site, this time promoting voter registration. The only thing the internet seemed to take away, though, was the friendship bracelet he was making for Joe Biden. Because everybody knows those two are bros for life.
4. Kid President meets the President of the United States of America
This video is less funny and more just downright cute. Twelve-year-old Robby Novak has made a name for himself as “Kid President,” a character created with the sole purpose of stimulating conversation and unity between adults and children. He was invited to the White House when he was 9 to meet Obama, and let’s just say that the resulting video is one that’s meant to restore faith in humanity.
3. “Slow Jam the News” with President Obama
“Jimmy Fallon and President Obama slow jam the news, discussing Obama’s legacy, accomplishments and thoughts on the 2016 election” is the YouTube summary for this video. If we’re being real, though, it should just be “Jimmy Fallon turns every comment Obama makes into a sexual innuendo, and it’s freaking hysterical.”
2. Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis: President Barack Obama
I had to really debate with myself whether to rank this video at number one. Both Obama and Galifianakis excel in deadpan comedy, and leaving the two of them to do a show together was simply genius. While the video itself is a little dated, the jokes somehow still stick almost three years later.
1. Couch Commander
While technically this could fall under the White House correspondents’ dinner category, it’s so real that it simply has to be at the top of the list. With his last days in the White House ahead of him, Obama needs to figure out what to do after he leaves. Special guest appearance by John Boehner and, of course, Joe Biden.
