Barack Obama may not be president anymore, but his legendary baby-whispering skills are apparently still going strong, after photos of his encounter with a baby at an Alaska airport were circulated widely on social media.
While in a waiting area for private flights at Anchorage International Airport on Monday, Obama, who was on his way home after a trip to Asia, spotted 6-month-old Giselle and her mother, Jolene Jackinsky, of Anchorage.
Jackinsky told CNN that Obama walked up and asked “Who is this pretty girl?” before scooping up the adorable infant, who was sporting a ribboned sun hat, while her mother snapped a couple of photos.
When Giselle’s father approached, Obama joked, “Hey! I’m taking your baby,” Jackinsky recalled.
“It was unreal and very exciting. After I met him I couldn’t believe I actually talked to him and he held my baby,” she said.
During his time at the White House, Obama became notorious for his love of kids. In 2011, a video of him expertly comforting a fussy baby went viral. Obama’s White House photographer, Pete Souza, also regularly captured the then-President meeting a series of small visitors on his Instagram page.
Yet, despite the famous man holding her, it was baby Giselle’s wide-eyed expression that some on social media in delight Saturday.
“Will never get enough of this baby’s expressions, like she KNOWS she’s meeting Pres Obama,” said one tweet.
