President Obama certainly has a way with the ladies—whether they be world leaders, American politicians, or even celebrities. He sings Al Green. And he’s got some pretty smooth dance moves. So it’s no surprise that Obama is also the smoocher-in-chief. From Aung San Suu Kyi to Aretha Franklin and Hillary Clinton, check out who’s gotten up close and personal with the president.
Sometimes a senator would prefer a high-five or a handshake, but President Obama goes for a full-on smooch as he leans in to plant one on Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
Susan Walsh/AP
One can hardly argue that Obama isn’t a dutiful husband. But he sure seems to get a lot of lip action with ladies who aren’t his wife. Although these up-close-and-personal greetings come with the territory, like this puckered hello with Jill Biden, it’s safe to say Michelle keeps a close eye on her hubby—a very close eye.
Susan Walsh/AP
During a trip to Burma, Obama met with Aung Sang Suu Kyi, the opposition leader who was under house arrest for two decades for advocating democratic political reforms. And it looks like the president was excited to be with the petite Suu Kyi, who has become a powerful symbol of perseverance in the face of oppression. To show his gratitude, he leaned in, gave her a hug, and laid a big one on her cheek.
Barbara Walton / EPA / Landov
Suu Kyi wasn’t the only one on the receiving end of some Obama charm during the president’s three-day trip to Asia. Yingluck Shinawatra, Thailand’s prime minister, hosted the president at a state dinner on Sunday. Throughout the meal, the pair were seen smiling at each other, sharing jokes, and exchanging little glances.
Jewel Samad / AFP / Getty Images
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is a no-nonsense politician who drives a hard bargain on bailing out members of the European Union. But even she has a soft spot for Obama. They’ve worked together to try to bring the global economy out of the economic doldrums, and the president wasn’t shy about expressing his affection for her during a G-8 summit meeting in May 2012.
Charles Dharapak / AP Photo
Both Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard were born in 1961. They send each other birthday cards and always have the nicest things to say about each other. So that warm relationship explains their affectionate peck on the cheek during a joint appearance at a military base in Darwin, Australia, last November.
Charles Dharapak / AP Photo
For most of the 2008 primary season, Obama and Hillary Clinton could hardly stand to be in the same room together, let alone think about being affectionate. But once it became clear that Obama would win the Democratic presidential nomination, the pair buried the hatchet and worked together to beat Republican rival John McCain. At a June 2008 campaign stop in Unity, N.H., Clinton called on her supporters to get behind the senator from Illinois, and the two exchanged a kiss on the cheek as the ultimate show of unity. It might have looked a little stilted, but Obama and Clinton eventually became great allies—and she became his secretary of State.
Saul Loeb / AP Photo
Together they navigated a political firestorm and pushed the Affordable Care Act through Congress to make it the law of the land. So it’s not surprising that the first female speaker of the House and the president have some fondness for each other. Obama put that affection on display during a February prayer breakfast in Washington, D.C.
Saul Loef / AFP / Getty Images
Aretha Franklin performed at Obama’s first inauguration and has been a big supporter of the president, attending fundraisers and singing for crowds waiting to hear him speak. And in return, she gets some R-E-S-P-E-C-T from Obama. The Queen of Soul performed at the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial on the National Mall and shared an intimate moment with Obama, getting a kiss and a squeeze from him.
Mandel Ngan / AFP / Getty Images
On February 15, 2011, Obama awarded poet Maya Angelou the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony at the White House. Not only did she get the medal that day, she also got a big smooch from the president.
Tim Sloan / AFP / Getty Images
OK, so they’re not really kissing in this photograph, but doesn’t it kinda look like they want to? Obama and Vice President Biden have a famous bromance. It all started when the pair were fighting for the Democratic nomination and the former senator from Delaware called the eventual first black president articulate. The always-gracious Obama still put him on the ticket. The pair weathered health-care reform, two draining wars, a Tea Party insurrection, and constant sniping from their political rivals on the right. Maybe Michelle and Jill should just give them some alone-time.
Pete Souza / The White House / Getty Images
Benetton made waves last year when it released an ad campaign depicting world leaders kissing. One of its most controversial was of Obama and Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez locking lips. (Another showed Obama kissing Chinese President Hu Jintao.) These images were just two of many that showed world leaders smooching. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also make an appearance in one of the ads, which was titled “Unhate.” Another showed the leaders of North and South Korea kissing.
Nir Eilias / Reuters / Landov
