• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechNetflix

The Best Moments from David Letterman’s Interview With Barack Obama on Netflix

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 12, 2018, 10:08 AM ET

Former President Barack Obama was the first guest in David Letterman’s new Netflix show, My Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, and it didn’t disappoint.

In their hour-long conversation, the two discussed everything from how President Obama spent his time in early 2017 after leaving office and what he really thinks about social media and its impact on politics. And yes, he’s happy to be out of Washington politics and on to something new.

Here’s a brief recap of the some of the best moments the former president’s interview with David Letterman:

Time Well Spent

After Obama left office in 2017, he told Letterman that he “slept in”—something he couldn’t do when he was serving as President of the United States.

He added that his vacation with his wife and former First Lady Michelle Obama was “a wonderful time.” He said that he “missed” Michelle during his time as President.

No More Presidency for Michelle

The U.S. Constitution forbids a President who served two four-year terms from running again—and that’s just fine by Michelle.

Obama joked to Letterman that he’s sure Michelle would “leave” him, if he had the opportunity to run again for President.

“I want her around,” he said.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter

Love for His Mother

The former president, at one point, turned his attention to his life and his parents, saying that his book, Dreams from My Father, was an enlightening experience for him.

He said that he realized after writing it that his mother Ann Dunham was “actually the guiding spirit” in his life. He added that he sometimes took that for granted.

A Way to Be ‘More Perfect’

In a broader discussion on civil rights, President Obama acknowledged that the U.S. is “not perfect.” But he said that the country has enacted positive change in the past to “become more perfect.”

He added that the ability to become “more perfect” is driven by “ordinary people deciding, ‘you know, that’s not right.'”

You can watch the full Obama interview now on Netflix.

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Gary Locke is the former U.S. ambassador to China, U.S. secretary of commerce, and governor of Washington.
CommentaryChina
China is winning the biotech race. Patent reform is how we catch up
By Gary LockeDecember 12, 2025
21 minutes ago
skills
C-Suiteskills
The AI skills gap is really a ‘critical thinking’ gap: The Fortune 500 fears it can’t find talent with enough sharp thinking
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 12, 2025
31 minutes ago
Carl Rinsch
Big TechCrime
Netflix’s $11 million funding for a director’s sports cars and luxury mattresses—not a show—leads to fraud conviction
By The Associated PressDecember 12, 2025
1 hour ago
Sarandos
CommentaryAntitrust
Netflix, Warner, Paramount and antitrust: Entertainment megadeal’s outcome must follow the evidence, not politics or fear of integration
By Satya MararDecember 12, 2025
2 hours ago
Elon Musk, wearing a black DOGE hat, looks forward. He is standing in the Oval Office.
PoliticsDOGE
DOGE isn’t dead—it’s been absorbed into the bloodstream of the government, federal employees say
By Sasha RogelbergDecember 12, 2025
2 hours ago
InvestingMarkets
Retail investors drive stocks to a pre-Christmas all-time high—and Wall Street sees a moment to sell
By Jim EdwardsDecember 12, 2025
2 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Success
At 18, doctors gave him three hours to live. He played video games from his hospital bed—and now, he’s built a $10 million-a-year video game studio
By Preston ForeDecember 10, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Palantir cofounder calls elite college undergrads a ‘loser generation’ as data reveals rise in students seeking support for disabilities, like ADHD
By Preston ForeDecember 11, 2025
22 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Investing
Baby boomers have now 'gobbled up' nearly one-third of America's wealth share, and they're leaving Gen Z and millennials behind
By Sasha RogelbergDecember 8, 2025
4 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
‘We have not seen this rosy picture’: ADP’s chief economist warns the real economy is pretty different from Wall Street’s bullish outlook
By Eleanor PringleDecember 11, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Uncategorized
Transforming customer support through intelligent AI operations
By Lauren ChomiukNovember 26, 2025
16 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
What it takes to be wealthy in America: $2.3 million, Charles Schwab says
By Sydney LakeDecember 11, 2025
1 day ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.