On 9 June 2016, President Barack Obama released a video formally endorsing Secretary Hillary Clinton for President:
In the clip, President Obama praised her and noted that he had to debate Clinton twenty times himself during their 2008 matchup. The President also noted that Clinton subsequently agreed to work with his administration as Secretary of State shortly after his election to the office. The clip wasn't just notable because of the gravity of Obama's stamp of approval — Twitter users deduced that the clip was likely filmed two days previously, due to the President's attire:
Based on his tie, it appears that President Obama recorded the endorsement video on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/oyDm4a4HCk
— Matt Viser (@mviser) June 9, 2016
Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump also took to Twitter to provide his take on the endorsement:
Obama just endorsed Crooked Hillary. He wants four more years of Obama—but nobody else does!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2016
Clinton quickly returned the tweet:
Delete your account. https://t.co/Oa92sncRQY
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 9, 2016
Obama referenced having met earlier with Sen. Bernie Sanders about the party's next steps in the election, a topic that came up at the day's White House Press Briefing:
.@PressSec: “I think it’s fair to say that Sen. Sanders was not at all surprised” at Obama’s endorsement https://t.co/HbpGgfjYj9
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 9, 2016
Sanders briefly spoke outside the White House as well:
After meeting with President Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders said he will work w/ Hillary Clinton to defeat Trump https://t.co/3O6F2NjEqz
— Mohamed Hemish (@MohamedHemish) June 9, 2016
During the briefing, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest confirmed that President Obama filmed his endorsement of Hillary Clinton on 7 June 2016.