Skip to main content

The White House is upset with Samsung about this Obama selfie

obama selfie samsung white house obamaselfieedited
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Why President Barack Obama poses for selfies as often as a teenage girl, we may never understand, but we now know that he objects to corporations sponsoring his up-close and off-kilter snapshots.

Last Tuesday, the White House hosted the Boston Red Sox to celebrate the team’s World Series victory, with Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz tasked with presenting an honorary jersey to the president. After posing for photographers with the president, Ortiz reached into his pocket and asked, “Do you mind if I take another one, with my own?”

Recommended Videos

“He wants to do a selfie. It’s the Big Papi selfie,” Obama said before placing himself within selfie range.

The selfie went out to Ortiz’s 638,000 followers.

Samsung quickly shared the photo with its five million followers.

The White House was not happy.

“Without getting into council’s discussions, I can tell you that as a rule, the White House objects to attempts to use the president’s likeness for commercial purposes, and we certainly object in this case,” said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.

In an interview with ESPN, Ortiz, who admitted to having a promotional deal with Samsung, insisted that the selfie was more about capturing a rare moment rather than fulfilling promotional obligations. “It just came right in the moment when I gave him the jersey and he asked to pictures … It was like, ‘Oh, wait a minute, let me see if I can get away with this.’ I was lucky that I was right there. It was fun. It was something I’ll never forget,” he said.

So far, there have been no requests to take down the tweets. According to CBS News, the White House doesn’t want to appear “heavy handed.”

Christian Brazil Bautista
Christian Brazil Bautista is an experienced journalist who has been writing about technology and music for the past decade…
The best Apple iPhone 16 Plus cases for 2024
A person taking a photo with the Apple iPhone 16 Plus.

The iPhone 16 series is available now, including the big and powerful iPhone 16 Plus. While you're choosing exactly what color you want for your shiny new phone, you should also look into a case to protect it from those times when you have butterfingers.

Although the iPhone 16 Plus is plenty durable on its own, a case can help you show off its design while protecting it against scratches. Even if you are really careful and you don't drop your phone, a touchscreen in the same pocket as your car keys is a recipe for disaster. Even a short drop can shatter a screen if it hits at the right angle. A good case will protect not only the screen but the cameras, sides, and ports of the phone, too.

Read more
The best Android phones in 2024: the 15 best ones you can buy
The OnePlus 12 and Pixel 8's screens.

When purchasing a new Android phone, several essential factors must be considered. Do you prefer a large screen for watching videos and playing games? How important is camera performance, especially if you enjoy taking high-quality photos? Are you someone who enjoys gaming on your phone and requires a device with excellent performance? Or do you need long-lasting battery life to keep up with your busy schedule?

This article aims to help you find the best Android phone that meets your specific needs in 2024. We have compiled a comprehensive list of Android phones catering to every type of requirement, including screen size, camera quality, gaming performance, and battery life.

Read more
Spotify vs. Pandora: which streaming service should you choose?
spotify vs pandora on iphone

Let's settle a musical debate: which music streaming platform should you use: Spotify or Pandora?

Both services have their unique strengths and weaknesses. Spotify boasts a more extensive music catalog, robust social features for sharing and discovering music with friends, and a more polished user experience across devices.

Read more