InstagramHas Barack Obama succumbed to his vice?
The POTUS, who has openly said in the past that he quit smoking, was questioned as to whether or not he picked up the bad habit again after a photo of the president holding what looked to be a cigarette carton surfaced on the Internet.
The rumors ignited after Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi posted a photo on Instagram of him standing on a balcony talking to Obama, who was holding something suspicious in his hand, but it didn't take long for the White House to shut down any speculation that the prez is smoking again.
On Wednesday, American Urban Radio Network White House Correspondent April Ryan, like us, wanted to get some answers and therefore asked press secretary Josh Earnest about the photo of the president holding questionable box.
"Does he have cigarettes in his hand?" Ryan asked. "He does not," Earnest replied. But that wasn't good enough for Ryan.
"What was it?" she continued, and Earnest got a little annoyed. "You may not be surprised that I haven't raised this issue with the president today," he said, but Earnest did end up checking on the situation and they weren't cigarettes.
In 2013, Obama revealed that he decided to quit by hilariously (and kind of accidentally) telling UN General Assembly attendee Maina Kiai, "I haven't had a cigarette in probably six years," adding with a smile and laugh, "That's because I'm scared of my wife."
LOL! Yes, we don't want to disappoint Michelle Obama, now would we?