Barack Obama holiday pictures released by Richard Branson after former President's Mosquito island stay
Former President and Virgin Group founder spent time kitesurfing on British Virgin Islands
Support truly
independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
Louise Thomas
Editor
While the world debates Donald Trump’s controversial string of executive orders, Barack Obama has been enjoying some downtime.
If Sir Richard Branson's photos are anything to go by, the former President is making the most of his newfound free time on the unlikely duo's recent holiday break together.
The Virgin Group founder and Mr Obama spent time kitesurfing on Mosquito Island in the British Virgin Islands – an island which Sir Richard purchased for £10m in 2007.
Writing on Virgin’s website, the billionaire entrepreneur said it was an honour to invite Mr Obama and Michelle Obama to the island.
“So we decided to set up a friendly challenge: could Barack learn to kitesurf before I learned to foil board?” Sir Richard wrote. “We agreed to have a final day battle to see who could stay up the longest.”
Michelle Obama as the First Lady
Show all 11Sir Richard posted a video of their challenge, with footage showing both men taking a dive in the water but the outgoing President coming out on top.
“Barack and I both fell many times, but we kept trying again and again and made progress over the days,” Sir Richard wrote.
“We were neck and neck until the last run on the last day, when I got up on the foil board and screamed along for over 50 metres, three feet above the water.
"I was feeling very pleased with myself, only to look over and see Barack go 100 metres on his kiteboard! I had to doff my cap to him and celebrate his victory.”
Since Mr Obama and his family boarded a Marine helicopter and left the White House after Mr Trump’s inauguration, they have enjoyed time off before returning to Washington so their 18-year-old daughter, Malia Obama, can finish school.
Sporting a backwards baseball cap and flip flops, Mr Obama could be seen pictured alongside Sir Richard.
While enjoying some R&R, Mr Obama found time to condemn President Trump’s hardline immigration order, which bans immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations.
“The President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion,” Mr Obama's spokesman said in a statement.
“Citizens exercising their Constitutional rights to assemble, organise and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments