The Most Emotional Moments of Barack Obama’s Life 》

Despite all the hatred from his critics, Barack Obama remains one of the most popular Presidents in United States history. One of the reasons for this is that he always projected strength and assurance, qualities that Americans always seek out in their leaders. Amid the most tumultuous times, Obama seemed like a stable rock who would never lose his control or composure.

However, those who paid close attention to this iconic President know that Obama has, in fact, lost his composure on more than one occasion. He didn’t get mad, though…in fact, he tended to get sad, and the cameras have caught the moments that he was moved to tears.

Just what are those moments, and what made this former President cry in the first place? Keep reading to discover the most emotional moments of Barack Obama’s life!

The Sandy Hook shooting

Ever notice how Presidents always leave office looking much older than when they entered? The biggest reason for this is the sense of responsibility that comes with the office. When tragedies happen on a President’s watch, it’s hard for them to feel like they couldn’t have done more to stop it. And that’s how Barack Obama felt in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting massacre.

As reported by NBC News, the President addressed the surviving family members of the shooting by saying, “I can only hope it helps for you to know that you’re not alone in your grief.” Continuing, he said, “We have wept with you, we’ve pulled our children tight.” This was literally true, as we could see the President crying during this address.

This event would continue to haunt Obama in later years. In 2015, he admitted to the BBC that his failure to pass “common sense gun laws” was the most frustrating thing about his two terms.

The passing of Dorothy Height

In 2010, Dorothy Height died at the age of 98. Barack Obama attended her funeral and cried during the ceremony. What made him so emotional, though? Simple: Height was a Civil Rights icon who had previously marched for equality alongside Martin Luther King Jr.

She never stopped fighting for equality, and Obama was so moved by her contributions to the nation that she was invited to sit on stage for his first inauguration as President. After she died, he attended the funeral to show his respect for someone who became a Black icon when Obama was still a child.

The death of his grandmother

Even if you are fond of Barack Obama, you might be wondering if you would have cried in these same situations. You likely have your own personal heroes who have shaped your life, but you may or may not be moved to tears by their passing. However, it’s a safe bet you’d cry own grandmother died, and that’s exactly what Obama did in 2008.

She actually died at a pivotal time in Obama’s career…on the last day of his first presidential campaign. Later, he discussed her death while giving a speech at the University of North Carolina. As reported by the New York Times, he told the assembled crowd that “she has gone home” but that he couldn’t say more about her because the loss was “hard to talk about.”

To this day, this is seen as one of the most humanizing moments of Barack Obama’s life.

Daniel Inouye’s funeral

When Barack Obama attended Daniel Inouye’s funeral, he was emotionally overwhelmed. In fact, he was caught crying during the service. Of course, this display of emotion was a bit confusing for many because Inouye wasn’t exactly a household name and few people knew how much he influenced Obama’s life.

You see, Inouye was a Senator from Hawaii for a whopping 49 years. Obama himself was born in Hawaii and always looked up to Inouye as an inspirational example. In fact, the younger man may never have run for President in the first place if not for this influential Hawaiian politician. Addressing the country, Obama once explained that “The way [Inouye] commanded the respect of an entire nation, I think it hinted to me what might be possible in my own life.”

Tears for Aretha Franklin

Obviously, most of what we have covered so far are sad moments…the times that tragedy, either personal or national, moved President Barack Obama to tears. Sometimes, though, he cried tears of pure joy. And the best example of that is when he was surprised by Aretha Franklin’s sudden appearance and song at a 2015 tribute to Carol King.

Barack and Michelle Obama were guests at this event, but they had no idea Franklin was going to perform. When she came out and sang “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” Obama began spontaneously crying because he was so moved by her performance. With a song and a singer that good, we can’t exactly blame him!