Obama administration

Barack Obama entered office as President of the United States of America on January 20, 2009, as the nation's 44th president and the first African American to be U.S. head of state. His Vice President is Joe Biden.

Obama began his presidential term of office with a focus on the Guantanamo detention camp and the Middle East. In line with his previous pledge to close the camp, Obama had military trials at Guantanamo suspended. He also called Middle Eastern leaders to pursue Arab-Israeli peace. Obama also became one the few presidents to take the oath of office twice, Chief Justice John Roberts having made a mistake the previous day. The renewed oath has no implications for Obama's legitimacy as President, as the new term begins automatically following the previous president leaving office.