When Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States, he faced quite a lot of criticism, both nationally and internationally. Yet, one of the most unusual controversies during his time in office is often overlooked.

American politics have a way of grabbing the world’s attention, and during Donald Trump’s presidency, people everywhere were keen to keep up with his actions and decisions. However, under President Obama, from 2009 to 2017, a particular event went under the radar for many outside the US.

While most of us are familiar with Trump’s blunders after he took office in 2017, largely due to his victory over Hillary Clinton, Obama’s presidency also had its curious moments.

He even went for a second term after defeating Kamala Harris, while Joe Biden was serving as president.

Many might be surprised to remember that one of the biggest controversies during Obama’s tenure was related to his choice of apparel.

On August 28, 2014, Obama held a live press conference to address the US military’s approach to the Islamic State (ISIS) group in Syria. During this announcement, he appeared in a tan suit, breaking away from the tradition of darker suits followed by other presidents before him.

This fashion choice was criticized widely, with some deeming it ‘unprofessional’ and ‘too casual’ for presidential attire. The suit itself became a hot topic, discussed across media and television for days.

Despite the buzz, the White House shared that Obama had a fondness for the suit: “He loves that suit.”

When the photo of Obama in the tan suit resurfaced on Instagram, people had some interesting comments to share. One remarked, “Remember when this was scandal, I would kill to have this be the only bad thing we’d say about our president, we had it all and didn’t know it.”

Another added, “They couldn’t handle his swag,” highlighting the charm and confidence Obama carried with the suit.

“Remember when this was the biggest concern in politics?” a person questioned, reflecting on how times have changed.

One staunch commenter simply said: “Like literally who cares it’s a suit.”

In the end, even Obama himself addressed the controversy. At his last press conference in 2017, he jokingly mentioned, “Let me start out by saying that I was sorely tempted to wear a tan suit today in the years.”

He humorously added, “But Michelle, whose fashion sense is a little better than mine, tells me that’s not appropriate in January.”

The tan suit incident might seem trivial now, especially when compared to other political dramas, but it serves as a reminder of the scrutiny public figures often face over simple choices.