President Barack Obama Talks Dancing on Today: "In Private, I Can Bust a Move"

Commander in chief dishes on life in the White House four months into his second term

By Josh Grossberg Apr 24, 2013 8:25 PMTags

President Barack Obama has had a lot on his plate the past few weeks.

But hours before the tragedy occurred at the Boston Marathon last Monday, the prez did take time out of his busy schedule to talk to Today about his role as husband to first lady Michelle Obama and father to 14-year-old Malia and 11-year-old Sasha.

When asked by Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie about the gaffe Mrs. Obama made earlier this month when she mistakenly referred to herself a "busy single mother," Obama empathized, especially given the burdens placed on her and other women juggling work and raising children.

"As somebody who has stumbled over my lines many times, I tend to cut my wife and anybody some slack when it comes to just slips of the tongue. But there's no doubt there's been times when Michelle probably felt like a single mom," said the president, noting the times he wouldn't see her for a week when he was campaigning.

When Guthrie brought up Michelle's "mom dancing" and whether there was some "dad dancing," the president deferred to the missus—mostly.

"She consistently maintains, and I don't argue with her, that she's a better dancer," noted Obama. "Now in private, I can bust a move and I think I'm pretty good, but she tends to hold out when it comes to praising my dancing."

And finally, asked whether Malia and Sasha immediately think it's uncool for dad to like something they're into, say a music or a trend, Obama revealed that he and Michelle have a plan to stem any teenage rebellions.

"Michelle and I have used this strategy when it comes to things like tattoos. What we've said to the girls is, 'if you girls ever decide you're going to get a tattoo, then Mommy and me will get the exact same tattoo, in the same place, and we'll go on You Tube and show it off as a family tattoo,' said the commander in chief with a grin. "And our thinking is that might dissuade them from some how thinking that is a good way to rebel."

Talk about a presidential seal of approval!

(E! and Today are both part of the NBCUniversal family)