President Obama said Friday he has not seen “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” even though he cut off his year-end press conference to attend a White House screening of the film.
Asked by YouTube star Adande “Swoozie” Thorne if he has seen the new movie, Obama replied, “I have not.”
But that’s not what the president suggested on Dec. 18 as he wrapped up a question-and-answer session with reporters.
{mosads}”OK, everybody, I got to get to ‘Star Wars,’ ” Obama said from the lectern as he waved off more questions in the White House briefing room.
The White House held a screening of the movie that day for military families who have lost relatives in overseas conflicts.
The event was held with much fanfare, with press secretary Josh Earnest appearing in the briefing room with two people dressed as storms troopers and R2-D2.
The movie was shown shortly before the Obama family was scheduled to depart for their annual Christmas vacation in Hawaii.
Thorne asked Obama what his favorite Star Wars film was, and Obama answered “number one,” apparently referring to “A New Hope,” the series’s first-released film, which is formally known as Episode IV.
“I was like 14, 15 … went to the Cinerama Theater around the corner from my house,” he said. “Blew my mind.”
Obama said his favorite Star Wars character is Han Solo.
“Little bit of a rebel, you know,” he said.
The president is doing a series of interviews with YouTube personalities following his final State of the Union address on Tuesday to promote his message for his final year in office.