Former President Barack Obama returned to the White House on Tuesday for the first time since 2017 in order to attend an event celebrating the 12 year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, one of the signature accomplishments of his administration. (Watch his speech from the East Room above).
It’s an honor to welcome my friend President @BarackObama back to the White House. I look forward to discussing the big step we’re announcing today that would expand coverage under the Affordable Care Act for families and lower health care costs for hardworking Americans. pic.twitter.com/FkLnkB96Jt
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 5, 2022
Obama began his remarks by teasing his former veep, calling him “Vice President Biden.”
Biden offered a mock salute to Obama, before the 44th president declared “That was a joke!” The two former running mates embraced and Obama quipped “That was all set up. My President, Joe Biden.”
Obama continued with the light-hearted tone, saying “It is good to be back in the White House. It’s been a while. I confess I heard some changes have been made by the current President since I was last here. Apparently Secret Service agents have to wear aviator sunglasses now. The Navy Mess has been replaced by a Baskin-Robbins. And there’s a cat running around.”
CBS News reports:
The former president said the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exemplified why public servants run for office — to make a difference in the lives of everyday Americans. The law, also known as Obamacare, expanded access to health insurance for millions of Americans.
“I intended to get health care passed, even if it cost me reelection — which, for a while, looked like it might,” Obama joked.
“The reason we’re here today is because President Biden, Vice President Harris, everybody who’s worked on this thing understood from the start that the ACA wasn’t perfect,” Obama continued. “To get the bill passed, we had to make compromises. We didn’t get everything we wanted. That wasn’t reason not to do it.”
Biden said the “Affordable Care Act is stronger now than it’s ever been.”
The Affordable Care Act is an example of why you run for office – not just to occupy a seat, but to make a difference in people’s lives.
Today I’m joining @POTUS and @VP at the White House to celebrate everything the ACA has achieved, and help make it even better.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 5, 2022
The Washington Post adds:
Biden said that it was fitting for Obama to make his return to the White House to celebrate the ACA and that “millions of lives” have been transformed “because of you.”
“I helped a little bit,” Biden joked before saying it was because of Obama that the ACA became law.
“Let’s be honest,” Biden added. “The Affordable Care Act has been called a lot of things, but Obamacare is the most fitting.”
