How Obama Feels About Ketchup And His Other Controversial Condiment Opinions

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Americans have a long history of dipping fries in ketchup, but there's one notable U.S. citizen who isn't a fan of this ubiquitous tomato condiment: former prez Barack Obama. On his wife Michelle's and brother-in-law Craig Robinson's podcast, "In My Opinion," Barack sat down to expound upon his disdain for ketchup. "I have nothing against kids having ketchup," the former POTUS opined. "But, at a certain point, you gotta kinda outgrow it." Michelle Obama was quick to note that this hot take on ketchup was not held by the other Obamas and that the couple's two adult daughters, Sasha and Malia, even liked mixing ketchup with other condiments to make unique sauces.

In 2009, Obama's political opponents lambasted him for ordering a cheeseburger in Virginia and asking for Dijon mustard, a move that Fox News host Sean Hannity loudly decried as pretentious. A relevant tidbit: in the video, Obama was sure to ask for no ketchup! How our Commanders in Chief feel about their food has always been a source of fascination. Current president Donald Trump is famously a huge fan of McDonald's, preferring a hearty repast of a Big Mac, Filet-O-Fish, fries, and a vanilla shake. Several years earlier, George H.W. Bush caused a spike in the sales of pork rinds when it came out that he liked his with Tabasco sauce. Barack Obama is no stranger to food-related press, with his preferences having made headlines during his back-to-back stints in the Oval Office and ever since.

Lest you think Barry O. is a food elitist, the man is known to order his steak medium-well, which shocked the internet. "I'm a medium-well guy," he told celebrity chef Bobby Flay during a cooking lesson on the White House lawn (via Food Network). "People always complain about that, but that's just how I like it." Back in 2015, Time magazine breathlessly recounted how Alan Wong's Restaurant in Honolulu was Mr. and Mrs. Obama's favorite date night destination — he apparently always orders the soy-braised short ribs.

Chef Sam Kass, who worked with the former president for years, created what Obama dubbed "lucky pasta" when the pair were traveling on Air Force One. The meal consisted of penne, pesto, chicken, spinach, and Parm. Obama credited the pasta for his debate victory over Republican Mitt Romney. Kass shared the story, along with others about cooking for Obama, in his book, "Eat a Little Better: Great Flavor, Good Health, Better World."

Humorously, Obama's palate again made headlines in 2013 when he told students visiting the White House that his favorite food was broccoli. The dubious press saw this for what it was: a fib designed to inspire good eating habits in impressionable young people. News outlets noted that Obama was an inveterate lover of junk food and expressed disbelief that he would even eat broccoli in the first place. Whether positive or negative, it's a near-guarantee that Barack Obama's food opinions are going to end up as tabloid fodder.