Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama returned to the White House on Wednesday for the unveiling of their formal White House portraits.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted the former first couple at a ceremony expected to be held in the East Room of the White House.
The Obama portraits unveiled: pic.twitter.com/PTWUQelpnu
— Eugene Daniels (@EugeneDaniels2) September 7, 2022
Traditionally, a first-term president hosts his immediate predecessor in a portrait unveiling, but the Obamas did not have a portrait ceremony while former President Donald Trump was in office.
The White House Historical Association directs the a process that sees the presidents and first ladies choose a portraitist before leaving the White House.
The former first couple sit for the portraits after they leave office, and approve of the portraits before they are unveiled at the White House.
The portraits are not the same paintings that were unveiled in 2018 for the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery.
It will be the first time Michelle Obama has returned to the White House and the second time Obama has visited.
There are portraits for all U.S. presidents and first ladies, beginning with George and Martha Washington. Congress purchased Washington’s portrait for the White House.
According to the White House Historical Association, many of the portraits came to the White House as gifts. Beginning in 1960s, the association began paying for the portraits.
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