What does the leader of the free world eat late at night while ruminating on healthcare and foreign policy? A recent New York Times article depicted President Obama as a highly disciplined snacker who consumes exactly seven almonds every night — but the commander-in-chief explained this morning on the Today Show that was in fact false.
In this clip from the Today Show, the President reveals that no, he is not in fact the only person on Earth who can stop after eating just seven almonds. For those who feel compelled to do a line-by-line analysis of this shocking conversation, here's a transcript:
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: A lot of people were interested to learn that you have a late night snack every night of exactly seven almonds.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Thank you for raising this.
SG: Why not eight?
PO: Well, this is an example of the weird way that the press works. So Michelle and Sam Kass, who was our chef here, one night they were talking about me and teasing me about how disciplined I was, that I didn't have potato chips or I didn't have a piece of cake. And this is when Michelle said, "Yes, and he just has seven almonds. That's it." To really drive home the point that I needed to loosen up a little bit. And Sam relayed this joke to The New York Times in the article and somehow it was relayed as if I was counting out--
SG: I was picturing you counting out your almonds.
PO: --the seven almonds. All my friends were calling up and they're saying, "You know, this seems a little anal. This is kind of weird." And I had to explain to them, no, this was a joke.
SG: That was my next question. After the White House are you going to let yourself go and have like, 10 or 11 almonds?
PO: Absolutely. But, you know, almonds are a good snack, I strongly recommend them.
SG: Mr. President, thank you. Appreciate it.
PO: Great to talk to you.
SG: Now you get to set the record straight on the almonds.
PO: I am so glad I had this opportunity. Because I--
SG: I went over my time, but--
PO: This has been really weighing on me.
Brace for Donald Trump's next campaign speech, in which he will take the President to task for being a flip-flopper on the subject of almond consumption.
• No, President Obama Doesn't Eat Exactly Seven Almonds Every Night [Today]
• Obama After Dark: The Precious Hours Alone [New York Times]
• All Obama Coverage [E]
