Portrait of Barack Obama
From history

Barack Obama

US President, 2009 to 2017

The first Black US president passed the Affordable Care Act and joined the Paris climate agreement, and also expanded drone strikes.

Barack Obama sits in the left-libertarian part of the Caucus economy and liberty compass: slightly state-led and centered on liberty and authority. The clearest positions are strongly institutional on institutions, leaning progressive on culture and leaning tech-optimist on technology. The profile is close to the middle on liberty and authority.

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Where Barack Obama sits on eight dimensions

Each scale runs from one pole to the other, and the dot shows the overall tendency of this leader's record and public life. These are simplified estimates and open to debate.

💰EconomySlightly state-led
State-ledFree market
⚖️Liberty and authorityCentered on liberty and authority
LibertarianAuthoritarian
🎭CultureLeaning progressive
ProgressiveTraditional
🌍NationLeaning globalist
GlobalistNationalist
🌱EnvironmentLeaning nature-first
Growth-firstNature-first
🤖TechnologyLeaning tech-optimist
Tech-cautiousTech-optimist
🕊️War and peaceLeaning strength-first
Peace-firstStrength-first
🏛️InstitutionsStrongly institutional
Anti-establishmentInstitutional

Leaders most like Barack Obama

Joe Biden US President, 2021 to 202594%Rob Jetten Prime Minister of the Netherlands, 2026 to present87%Anthony Albanese Prime Minister of Australia, 2022 to present86%Bill Clinton US President, 1993 to 200185%Keir Starmer UK Prime Minister, 2024 to 202684%Jonas Gahr Støre Prime Minister of Norway, 2021 to present84%

Leaders furthest from Barack Obama

Jair Bolsonaro President of Brazil, 2019 to 20227%Donald Trump US President, 2017 to 2021 and 2025 to present11%Abelardo de la Espriella President of Colombia, 2026 to present13%

Political views closest to Barack Obama

Third Way centrismCombines market economics with moderate social policy and pragmatic problem solving.82%Liberal internationalismBacks a rules-based world order of alliances, trade and institutions to keep the peace.77%Social liberalismDefends individual rights and open societies while backing public services and equal…77%

Percentages show how close two profiles are across all eight dimensions. Including a person here is for historical study and comparison, not approval. Portrait: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; see all photo credits.