Barack Obama made a rare public appearance on Sunday, February 15, attending the 2026 NBA All-Star Game at the Intuit Dome in California alongside former First Lady Michelle Obama and their younger daughter, Sasha Obama.
The outing came days after a viral social media video shared by Donald Trump depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.
In an interview with political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama described the posts and related public behavior as a “clown show” and said he lamented the loss of “decorum” and “propriety” associated with the presidency. Trump attributed the posting to an unnamed White House staffer and said he would not apologize.
During the game, Obama sat courtside with his family and caught a loose ball headed toward him and Michelle Obama before tossing it back into play. He then handed the ball to Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns and briefly exchanged a few words with the guard.
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Speaking with analyst Reggie Miller during an NBC broadcast, Barack Obama said he was encouraged by the level of effort in the exhibition format. “There’s a lot of concern about the All-Star Game and not seeing effort,” he said, per USA Today.
He added, “Today we are seeing [that effort]. Anytime you get Americans vs. International (teams), they want to bring it.” Celebrities including Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Queen Latifah were also in attendance at the arena.
Michelle Obama Shares Family Courtside Moment From All-Star Night
Michelle Obama shared a photo on Instagram showing herself, Barack Obama, and Sasha Obama seated together at the game. “My favorite teammates on and off the court. 🏀,” she wrote in the caption.
Photos from the event showed the former first lady in a black jacket with her hair pulled up and bangs framing her face, while the former president wore a blue jacket layered over a black sweater with gray pants.
Additional images captured Sasha seated in the row behind her parents alongside basketball legend Julius Erving as the family watched and reacted to the action on the court.
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Barack Obama has long spoken openly about his passion for basketball, often discussing NBA matchups and NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament brackets during his presidency.
Sasha Obama and her sister, Malia Obama, were most recently photographed together in a Thanksgiving image shared on November 27, 2025, showing the family of four and marking their latest public family update ahead of the All-Star appearance.
