Near, far, wherever they are, we believe that Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s bromance does go on.
With inauguration day only hours away, it’s time to look back on the laughter, the tears and the fierce brotherly love that made the Obama and Biden friendship the beloved First Bromance of America that it’s been over these past eight years.
From ice-cream socials and grand birthday gestures to supportive speeches and financial assistance, ever since Barack and Joe won the 2008 election, they’ve had each other’s backs, through thick and thin.
So before the boys try out the whole long-distance thing, let us reflect on some of the maaaaany times they raised the bar for #FriendshipGoals, in no particular order.
Casual hangouts
Even though they’re two of the most important people on earth, Barack and Joe don’t need to be surrounded by impressive architecture, fancy cuisine or famous friends to have a good time. Whether they’re grabbing some ice cream, a few burgers or kicking it in the stands of a game, like true BFFs, they chill whenever and whenever.
Phil Schiliro, assistant to the President for legislative affairs, left, with President Obama and VP Biden bro-ing out at a Duke Georgetown NCAA college basketball game in 2010.
Image: Nick wass/ap photo
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meeting with, from left, Aidin Sarabi, Abdullahi Mohamed, Meredith Upchurch and Antonio Byrd at a Shake Shack in Washington, Friday, May 16, 2014.
Image: MANUEL BALCE CENETA/ap photo
Back in August of 2008 before winning the election, Obama and Biden shared a laugh while ordering ice cream at the Windmill Ice Cream Shop in Aliquippa, Pa.
Image: Alex Brandon/ap photo
The BroHugs
Obama and Biden made sure to hug it out at every available opportunity. Though they’ve embraced every opportunity to embrace they could find, over the past eight years, one of the most memorable hugs came during a moment the two shared on stage after being re-elected for a second term in 2012.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden embrace on stage after his victory speech on election night in 2012.
Image: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
That time they made a workout video together
After the dynamic duo was challenged by Michelle Obama to show us how they move, in support of FLOTUS’s “Let’s Move” campaign, BFFs Barack and Joe came together to do some jogging around the White House, a little stretching, and a lot of rehydrating, of course.
When Joe made sure Barack was in his first selfie
Normally, a first selfie is an iconic moment for youand you alone. But when it came time for Joe Biden to snap his first selfie, he knew it’d be nothing without his best friend by his side. The legendary Instagram post (captioned: “Found a friend to join my first selfie on Instagram. Thanks for following and stay tuned. VP”) features the bros smiling ear-to-ear in the back of a presidential motorcade.
We wish we could be this cool.
In times of tragedy
When Joe Biden’s eldest son, former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, passed away in May of 2015, Barack made sure he was right by our VP’s side every step of the way.
After the news broke, Obama released a touching statement explaining, “Like his dad, Beau was a good, big-hearted, devoutly Catholic and deeply faithful man, who made a difference in the lives of all he touchedand he lives on in their hearts.”
He later gave a moving eulogy at Beau’s funeral.
“We are here to grieve with you, but more importantly we are here because we love you,” Obama addressed the Biden family before praising Beau’s character. “Anyone can make a name for themselves in this reality TV age, but to make that name mean something, to have it associated with dignity and integritythat is rare,” he said.
Before concluding his speech, Obama addressed his dear friend, reassuring him, “Joe, you are my brother.”
Image: YURI GRIPAS/Ap photo
In an interview with CNN that aired in January 2016, Biden reflected on Obama’s deeply supportive actions during the difficult time, and shared that POTUS offered him and his family financial help and heartfelt advice during his son’s illness.
After Biden told Obama he was thinking of selling his family’s Wilmington, Delaware home in order to care for Beau’s family, Obama immediately took action. According to the VP, Obama “got up and he said, ‘Don’t sell that house. Promise me you won’t sell the house.'”
Biden told CNN’s Gloria Borger, Obama said, “I’ll give you the money. Whatever you need, I’ll give you the money. Don’t, Joepromise me. Promise me.”
.@VP: @POTUS offered financial help amid my son’s illness https://t.co/9hQLocgkaA https://t.co/wAR3T0ueCV
CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 12, 2016
Post-Trump, but still tight
On Nov. 9, President Obama stood in the Rose Garden to deliver a statement on the election results following Hillary Clinton’s loss. At a time when Americans were feeling a range of emotions, Obama and Biden did their best to keep things hopeful and lighthearted.
“I’ve lost elections before,” Obama admitted before joking, “Joe hasn’t, but you know.”
Biden then graced Obama with one of his epic side hugs and recalled his own ill-fated presidential campaign in 2008, reminding his pal: “You beat me badly.”
A warm moment between @potus and @vp pic.twitter.com/p1tqQgSoe6
Mashable News (@MashableNews) November 9, 2016
The presents
For President Obama’s 55th birthday, Biden tweeted a photo of friendship bracelets made for the duo.
Are. You. Kidding. Me.
The gesture was likely a throwback to a June BuzzFeed video, “5 Things that Are Harder than Registering to Vote,” in which President Obama makes his very own “Barack” and “Joe” bracelets, but whatever the inspiration was, friendship bracelets are no joke.
Happy 55th, Barack! A brother to me, a best friend forever. pic.twitter.com/uNsxouTKOO
Vice President Biden (@VP) August 4, 2016
In case that gift wasn’t heartfelt enough, Biden continued to woo Obama as his special day went on, bringing him delicious looking birthday cupcakes… WITH CANDLES.
President Obama blows out candles on birthday cupcakes brought to him by VP Joe Biden, Aug. 4 – Pete Souza pic.twitter.com/aNQncMkXzd
GoldenCouple (@TRH_WandC) August 5, 2016
In September, Obama returned the love to Biden on his special day, offering him birthday wishes in the form of an adorable tweet where he referred to Joe as the “best VP and friend.”
Happy birthday, Joe! The best @VP and friend I could have had alongside me these past eight years. pic.twitter.com/kWH3L5uSFC
President Obama (@POTUS) November 20, 2016
The meme of all memes
When America needed it most, Barack and Joe’s friendship was there.
Following Donald Trump’s election, the bromance inspired the brilliant people of the internet to create a coping meme, which consisted of charming photographs of POTUS and VP accompanied by Biden’s fictional and menacing intentions of ways to mess with Trump.
Obama: “Joe, why are you still holding my hand?”
Biden: “I wanna freak Mike Pence out”
Obama: “But why?”
Biden: “Just roll with it” pic.twitter.com/o5KZZ0Ysgzthomas moore (@Thomas_A_Moore) November 12, 2016
biden: cmon you gotta print a fake birth certificate, put it in an envelope labeled “SECRET” and leave it in the oval office desk
obama: joe pic.twitter.com/UTtv1JkE5ojomny sun (@jonnysun) November 11, 2016
Joe: Okay so we sneak in one night around February, steal his shoes
Obama: Joe
Joe: And then dump legos all over the floor pic.twitter.com/2KCU7LbciVJacqueline (@jacquelinehey) November 13, 2016
The “Biden plotting against Trump” memes will live in glorious infamy and forever remind us of the intimate and humorous relationship Barack and Biden shared in the White House.
Barack’s goodbyes
On Jan. 10, President Obama delivered his emotional farewell address to the American people.
Towards the end of the speech, he turned to Vice President Joe Biden, whom he of course called a “brother.”
“To Joe Biden, the scrappy kid from Scranton who became Delawares favorite son,” Obama said. “You were the first choice I made as a nominee, and the best. Not just because you have been a great vice president, but because in the bargain, I gained a brother.”
*blinks back tears*
“We love you and Jill like family, and your friendship has been one of the great joys of our life,” Obama concluded before he and Joe exchanged a legendary finger guns exchange.
Tom Namako (@TomNamako) January 11, 2017
Joe’s big surprise
After watching the video belowwhich documents the ultimate display of bromantic affectionyou’ll be hard pressed not to be weepy.
On Jan. 12 President Obama surprised Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Americans watched through blurry eyes as the VP broke down in tears.
Biden and Obama both took the mic to praise one another and share some insight on their friendship.
One final meme
As Obama praised Biden’s accomplishments and character before presenting him with the Medal of Freedom, he straight up acknowledged the bromance.
“This also gives the internet one last chance to talk about our bromance.” pic.twitter.com/aQnsUyH293
Mashable GIF (@mashablegif) January 12, 2017
Not only did the internet talk about their bromance once again, but of course, made one final meme of the two pals before they left the White House.
To help us survive inauguration week, the touching moment when Obama presented Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom was transformed into a joke sesh.
biden: i am one with the force, the force is with me
obama: what?
biden: nothing pic.twitter.com/xAlcWBPM4M
Colin Jones (@colinjones) January 14, 2017
Biden: am i an avenger now?
Obama: sure Joe
Biden: pic.twitter.com/fNAy5Xwte2
Ally Gator (@notacroc) January 13, 2017
“but i thought the old lady dropped it into the ocean in the end”
“well baby, i went down and got it for you”
“aw, you shouldn’t have” pic.twitter.com/GfhnGsXFIW
((Julia Reinstein)) (@juliareinstein) January 13, 2017
Biden: wow this is like a black belt huh
Obama: no it’s the presidential medal of free- ya know what, yeah joe, it’s like a black belt pic.twitter.com/2WfFJ2Wn7c
rudy mustang (@roostermustache) January 12, 2017
Excuse us, while we try to find a friendship this true.
Read more: http://mashable.com/2017/01/19/barack-obama-joe-biden-bromance-history/