Obama returns to White House for portrait unveiling amid report of tension with Biden camp

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama returned to the White House on Wednesday for the unveiling of their official portraits.

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted the event, and the former president took the opportunity to heap praise on his former running mate.

“The country is better off than when you first took office,” Barack Obama said of Biden, “And we should all be deeply grateful for that.”

But all may not be friendly among those close to the two former running mates, according to a new report.

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The Washington Post reported that there is a “long-simmering tension, and even some jealousy, between the circles around Obama and Biden,” particularly after Obama in April jokingly called him “Vice President Biden.”

The Obama-Biden “bromance” was oversold, aides told the Post, and some of Biden’s team feel “resentment” toward Obama aides who wanted to drop Biden from the ticket in 2012.

Some former Obama aides, like economic adviser Jason Furman, have not shied away from criticizing Biden policies.

“Pouring roughly half trillion dollars of gasoline on the inflationary fire that is already burning is reckless,” tweeted Furman, who served as chairman of the president’s Council of Economic Advisers during the Obama administration. “Doing it while going well beyond one campaign promise ($10K of student loan relief) and breaking another (all proposals paid for) is even worse.”

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The White House has been quick to dismiss any implication that the president and the Obamas share any animosity. 

“President Biden and Dr. Biden are honored to have former President Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama back to the White House for the unveiling of their portraits, which will hang on the walls of the White House forever as reminders of the power of hope and change,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told the Post.

Traditionally, the current president has always invited their predecessor to the White House to unveil their official portraits, but former President Donald Trump bucked that tradition. The ceremony was the first time Michelle Obama has entered the White House since leaving with her husband in 2017.

The White House Historical Association facilitates the creation of these portraits. Typically, the president and first lady pick their artist before leaving the White House. Presidents and first ladies have final approval of the paintings before they are revealed to the public. 

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Obama is set to participate in a Democrat-hosted fundraiser on Thursday, just two months out from the November midterms. 

The former president will be headlining the fundraiser with Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and they are expected to carry on a “conversation” in New York City on Thursday, according to the invitation obtained by Fox News Digital. 

General reception entry is $25,000 per guest, with VIP Reception and Photo Line entry set at $50,000 per person. 

Fox News’ Haley Chi-Sing, Phillip Nieto, Morgan Phillips and Jessica Chasmar contributed to this report.