If anyone’s overdue for a vacation, it must be the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, and his family.
The four of them – Obama and his wife Michelle, as well as their two daughters Malia, 18, and Sasha, 15 – have been in the White House for eight years.
Eight years of being on call 24/7. Eight years of tough decisions, hard bargaining, being stalked by press and stressing that the world should not implode on your watch.
Now, it's time for a holiday. Starting with a round of golf.
TMZ reported Obama kicked off his vacation with 18 holes at Porcupine Creek Ranch in Rancho Mirage in California on Saturday.
He was accompanied by friends and a handful of secret service members, of course.
Obama told CBS News last week that the family was happy to be leaving the White House.
"They’re ready to go," he said in an interview with reporter Steve Kroft.
"I mean, the girls are now of an age in which the constraints of Secret Service and bubbles and all that stuff has gotten pretty old. Michelle never fully took to the scrutiny. She’s thrived as a first lady, but it’s not her preference."
Meryl Streep’s Golden Globes Speech. Discuss. Post continues below.
But after their vacation, both the former president and his wife will be back to work.
"It has been the honour of my life to serve you," he said in his Farewell Speech in Chicago earlier this month. "I won’t stop; in fact, I will be right there with you, as a citizen, for all my days that remain."
He shared the same sentiment trough Twitter on Saturday, reverting back to his personal account.
Here's to a well-earned break, and the hard work that lies ahead.
Top Comments
Hard earned break, he was always on the golf course.
Not nearly as often as GWB before him, who took 533 vacation days, versus Obama's 217. Clinton took even fewer, with 174 days.
Sshh...wouldn't want facts to get in the way of Guest25's agenda.
Try again. Perhaps you need to find some facts (real ones, not alternative ones) before spouting off.
He still was President for 8 years. Get over it.
Because it's not like he spent a hell of a lot of his time as Pres improving his gold handicap....
Everything he did was documented and scrutinised by the media. A few games of golf is hardly a problem. At least he didn't spend his time watching tv then tweeting his disdain about what he saw and heard.
As the comment above said GWB took 533 vacation days, Obama took 217 and Clinton took even less.
Perhaps you need to examine why the conservative American media was so keen on painting Obama as lazy?