Former President Barack Obama has apologized for accidentally appearing in the background of a family photo. On social media, mom Portia Moore shared a photo of her young daughter and son – and unexpectedly, Obama – in Washington, DC. She says the photo is now “a family heirloom.”
The family was taking photos at Washington’s Tidal Basin. Portia’s son is only 20 months old, so when her children posed for photos, she was focused on them.
Thanks to a ‘peak mom moment,’ Portia didn’t even notice Obama.
“Of course, I’m paying attention to my son, making sure he doesn’t run into the water,” she explained to NBC 4 Washington. Meanwhile, her husband tried pointing something out to her but she “didn’t know what he was saying” and continued to focus on watching her kiddo.
She described the moment in more detail on social media. “It’s the kids turn to take a photo together and Damien is saying something to me,” she recalled. “I’m just focused on Preston not running towards the water (peak mom moment).”
After they finished snapping photos, she realized what her husband was trying to tell her.
Once they finished taking photos, Portia picked up her son and turned her attention back to her husband. “What were you saying?” she asked him. He told her that the former president had just walked past them.
Realizing what had happened, Portia “ran to the photographer and asked her if she got the picture.” Sure enough, Obama was in the background of a photo of her kids.
Obama commented on the mom’s post to apologize.
To Portia, the experience “was perfect,” she told NBC Washington. The fact that Obama photobombed their family photos didn’t bother her. “This story is one to remember and the picture is a family heirloom (literally),” she wrote on Instagram. “And nope, we did not bother him on his much needed peaceful stroll.”
Still, Obama commented on the post to apologize for unintentionally appearing in the family photo. “Preston and Belle, I hope you enjoyed peak bloom!” he commented. “My bad for stepping into the shot.”
The mom invited Obama to her family’s next photo shoot.
On Instagram, Portia said “such an epic core memory formed for our entire family.” She also shared a message with Obama via NBC Washington: “Come for next year’s shoot. Same place, same time, same date. We’ll be here.”
The family’s photographer, Briana Inell, told the news outlet that people often appear in the background of photos that she takes for clients and she has to edit them out. This time, it’s different: She definitely won’t be editing Obama out of the family photo.
