It was a press conference in which the leader of the free world admitted he had no strategy for fighting a broader campaign against terrorists, who claim to have established a caliphate in Iraq and Syria.
But for many in the press and on social media, the real story was the President's slightly baggy tan suit.
Over 1,000 tweets about Obama's suit, passes House lawsuit against White House for most "Obama suit" tweets in a day
pic.twitter.com/GjBPnwJtsG — Kia Makarechi (@Kia_Mak)
August 28, 2014
Tan may have proved the perfect shade for camouflaging a lack of military direction, as the hashtag #tansuit soon began trending on Twitter in Washington.
Wags championed a fresh slogan for the embattled leader: "Yes we tan".
There were even suggestions for a new memoir, The Audacity of Taupe.
Mr Obama's straying from his stock wardrobe is more notable for his past emphasis on a restricted palette.
"You'll see I wear only grey or blue suits," he told Vanity Fair in 2012.
"I'm trying to pare down decisions. I don't want to make decisions about what I'm eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make."
Many social media users wanted to drag the discussion back to those difficult choices, including possible responses to Russia's incursion into Ukraine.
Can't believe the twiterverse is all a-twitter about
#BarackObama's suit. Honestly, discuss something of depth
#tansuit — Melanie King (@MelanieinAus)
August 28, 2014
But then there was the cut of the suit to consider.
Tailoring is the only issue here. Lest we forget, Obama's summer suit game is tight.
#tansuit
pic.twitter.com/XB2sE8Roqa — Matthew Beatty (@Matthew_Beatty)
August 28, 2014
There were even unfavourable comparisons to used car salesman.
"I've got some great deals on a preowned Hyundai for you today"
pic.twitter.com/zDNfZASEty — Steve Streza (@SteveStreza)
August 28, 2014
Some relished the fact that, for once, a male politician was under the type of sartorial scrutiny usually reserved for females.
Predictably, the discussion then turned towards the Democrats' presidential hopes in two years' time.
BUT WHAT DOES OBAMA'S TAN SUIT MEAN FOR HILLARY'S CHANCES IN 2016?!? — RL Miller (@RL_Miller)
August 28, 2014
