A Virginia family in Washington, D.C., got a picture they will remember when former President Barack Obama accidentally stepped in front of a picture of their two kids with the area’s famous cherry blossom trees.
People saw Obama walk into the background of a professional picture of Belle, 4, and Preston, 1, at the Tidal Basin.
Obama later apologized on social media, writing, “Preston and Belle, hope you enjoyed peak bloom. My bad for stepping into the shot.”
Many people from all over the world come to the nation’s capital every spring to see the cherry trees in bloom.
The picture shows two happy kids smiling under a branch with pretty pink petals. In the background is the Washington Monument. Bush is seen walking behind them with his hands in his pockets and wearing a cap and sunglasses.
Just as the children were wrapping up a photo with their parents, Portia Moore and Damien Thomas, Moore posted on Instagram about Obama’s unexpected appearance.
“Look who strolled by in our picture for our family Cherry Blossom photo shoot!” she wrote.
OBAMA PHOTOBOMB!
A local mom & dad took their kids on a cherry blossom photo shoot @ the Tidal Basin yesterday morning… and look who walked right by! @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/nB9UMtDvRq— Joseph Olmo (@ReporterJoseph) April 1, 2025
“Story time! It’s the kids turn to take a photo together and Damien is saying something to me,” she added. “I’m just focused on Preston not running towards the water (peak mom moment). After that shoot was done I pick Preston up and asked Damien ‘what were you saying’? He goes ‘that was President Obama who just walked by’ and looks his direction. I was like whaaaaat?! I ran to the photographer and asked her if she got the picture. She scrolls through and BOOM there is it! The perfect shot!”
Briana Inell, the photographer taking pictures of Moore’s young children, told the Washington Post that she has been taking pictures of families and babies for more than ten years.
The woman said it wasn’t strange for tourists to walk by in the background.
“I go to the Tidal Basin every single year,” Inell said. “I’m very used to people walking in on my pictures. I tell my clients ‘don’t worry they will be Photoshopped out.’”
In addition to his apology, Obama also posted about the day on his own Instagram account.
“It’s fun to be able to play tourist once in a while. The cherry blossoms were beautiful this morning!” he wrote.