Barack and Michelle Obama are in a (sexy) holiday mood. 

The former President and First Lady sent a warm, low-key holiday message on Christmas Day, sharing a new (sexy, hey Michelle) portrait and simple wishes with millions of followers. In the image, Michelle is seen in a black, lacy, peekaboo ensemble that gives a slight wink to her latest book, “The Look,” which hones in on her fashion statements as the former First Lady.

“Merry Christmas!” the forever president captioned the gorgeous photo, which showed the couple smiling in front of three lighted trees. “Michelle and I hope you have a wonderful holiday filled with light and joy.”

Michelle posted the photo to her account, adding, “Merry Christmas! Barack and I send you our heartfelt wishes for a blessed holiday and joyful start to the new year.” The Obama Foundation also circulated a festive note and a throwback image, writing, “May your Christmas be filled with unwrapping new possibilities and the warmth of time spent with your loved ones.” 

These holiday posts are a long family tradition for the Obamas. Michelle told Jimmy Kimmel this month that the Obamas mail more than 100,000 Christmas cards each year. "But that incorporates friends, family, business people [and] foundation people, so it's a lot of folks that we want to thank,” Michelle added.

Fans and public figures flooded their replies with warm wishes and nostalgia, treating the understated portrait as a welcome pause in a hectic, tragic, heavy news cycle. For many followers, the couple’s brief, sincere message cut through partisan noise and offered a palpable sense of warmth—something sorely missed from our political leaders.

Whether through a foundation greeting or a personal caption, the Obamas’ Christmas greeting showed that small acts of connection still carry power. This year their photo and message were like a holiday gift, arriving in inboxes and feeds when people needed it most. Their simple message felt like a national exhale.