Former President Barack Obama recently had a viral moment when his visit to the Team USA men’s basketball team had an uncanny resemblance to a 2014 Key & Peele skit. Obama attended a send-off for Team USA as they prepared to depart for the Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France. They’ll be joining other star athletes in an attempt to bring home the gold for their nation.
Obama reenacts Key & Peele skit when meeting with Team USA
In the Key & Peele skit in question, Jordan Peele plays then-President Obama. After giving a speech, he makes the rounds, meeting the audience. When approaching a white person, he gives a formal handshake, but when he meets a black person, he gives them hugs and complex handshakes.
Whether intentional or not, life imitated art when Obama met with Team USA. As you can see in the viral video, when Obama meets with the black players he gives them casual handshakes and hugs. However, when approaching the white coaching staff, he gives a formal handshake (though one of them gets a Christian Side Hug).
However, this behavior is far from racist. The fact is that Obama knows many of the players on Team USA, such as Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Anthony Davis. He’s also known for being a huge basketball fan, and some of that enthusiasm likely spilled over. Also, he likely approached the coaches and staff formally out of respect for their positions.
Obama went on to deliver this message to the team:
“It is true I am the Hooper-in-Chief. I just want to come here to help send off the soon-to-be gold medal winners. We invented this game, and I don’t like it when we don’t win. Assuming they (Team USA) play as a team, our talent will be unmatched. I’m confident that they’ll be bringing back the gold and representing us the way we should be represented around the world.”
You can catch Team USA’s opening game against Serbia on July 28. Matches against South Sudan and Puerto Rico will be held on July 31 and August 3, respectively.
