What is "Not Bad" Obama Face?

"Not Bad" Obama Face is a reaction image derived from a May 2011 photograph of President Barack Obama at Buckingham Palace. The image shows Obama with raised eyebrows and pursed lips in an expression of pleasant surprise, used to convey approval when something exceeds expectations.

Where did "Not Bad" Obama Face come from?

The meme originated on Reddit's f7u12 subreddit on May 26, 2011, when user joeyjoejoe99 posted a rage comic featuring a Reuters photograph from Obama's UK state visit two days earlier.

What does "Not Bad" Obama Face mean?

The face expresses grudging approval or pleasant surprise when an outcome is better than expected. It functions similarly to the 'everything went better than expected' rage face but carries a more understated, 'I'm impressed' connotation.

How do you use "Not Bad" Obama Face?

The image is typically placed at the end of a rage comic or used as a standalone reaction when something turns out unexpectedly well. It works best for situations involving pleasant surprises or acknowledging someone exceeding expectations.

Is "Not Bad" Obama Face still popular?

While rage comics have declined in popularity since their 2011 peak, the "Not Bad" face is a classic meme format that saw significant use throughout the early 2010s. Obama acknowledged the meme during his 2012 Reddit AMA, cementing its cultural significance.

"Not Bad" Obama Face

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Published September 10, 2026

During President Obama's 2011 state visit to the United Kingdom, a Reuters photograph captured him and First Lady Michelle Obama wearing an unexpected 'sturgeon face' expression at Buckingham Palace. Within days, Reddit users transformed the image into a rage comic reaction face with the caption 'Not Bad,' spawning one of the most recognizable approval faces in meme history.

internet memes

Overview

The "Not Bad" Obama Face functions as a positive reaction image expressing pleasant surprise or approval when something exceeds expectations. The format takes its power from the contrast between Obama's typically composed presidential demeanor and the candid, almost comically impressed expression captured in the photograph. Users deploy it in rage comics and standalone reactions to convey grudging respect or unexpectedly positive outcomes1.

The face itself shows Obama with raised eyebrows, pursed lips pushed forward, and a slight downward tilt of the head. This distinctive expression, sometimes called a 'sturgeon face,' became shorthand for the phrase 'not bad' even without accompanying text. A companion version featuring Michelle Obama with a similar expression, dubbed the 'O RLY' variant, appeared the same day and saw its own spread3.

The meme slots into the broader rage comic ecosystem alongside faces like 'Forever Alone' and 'Me Gusta,' but uniquely draws from a real, recognizable public figure. This gave it crossover appeal beyond typical rage comic audiences, making it accessible to anyone familiar with Obama's public image.

Gallery

Origin & Background

Platform

Reddit (f7u12)

Creator

joeyjoejoe99

Date

2011

On May 24, 2011, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama visited Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace during their first official state visit to the United Kingdom1. During the event, a Reuters photojournalist captured a candid shot of the couple wearing nearly identical startled expressions. The British press widely covered the visit, with The Telegraph featuring the photograph as its 'Picture of the Day' on May 2610.

Two days after the photo was taken, on May 26, 2011, Reddit user joeyjoejoe99 posted a rage comic titled 'Not Bad Obama' to the f7u12 subreddit2. The comic depicted the 'Computer Reaction Guy' editing the news photograph into rage face format, concluding with Obama's expression and the red-text caption 'Not Bad.' That same day, Redditor thrsdy posted a companion piece titled 'Not Bad, Michelle' featuring the First Lady's similar expression3.

How It Spread

The meme spread rapidly across Reddit immediately after joeyjoejoe99's initial post. Within hours of the first comic, multiple derivative works appeared on the f7u12 subreddit. Redditor eyes_of_disapproval contributed a face swap version titled 'Not bad, Mobama'4. The Daily What featured the Obamas' rage faces on May 265, while the Daily Mail ran a captioning contest using the original photograph6.

Over the following weeks, the "Not Bad" face migrated beyond Reddit to humor aggregators. Memebase highlighted derivative comics7, while rage face repositories like Ragefac.es8 and All The Rage Faces9 added the image to their collections. The caption 'Not Bad' became broadly associated with any 'sturgeon face' expression, expanding the meme's application beyond just Obama.

The meme received an unusual validation on August 26, 2012, when Obama himself visited Reddit for a 30-minute AMA session11. When asked about Reddit, the President responded with 'NOT BAD' in all caps. While not explicitly confirmed as a reference, the capitalization and context strongly suggested awareness of his own meme status.

Timeline

2011-05-24

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama visit Buckingham Palace; Reuters photographer captures the now-famous 'sturgeon face' expression.

2011-05-26

The Telegraph publishes the photograph as 'Picture of the Day.' Reddit user joeyjoejoe99 posts 'Not Bad Obama' rage comic to f7u12.

2011-05-26

Reddit user thrsdy posts 'Not Bad, Michelle' companion piece. The Daily What features the rage faces.

2011-05

Daily Mail runs captioning contest using the original photograph.

2011-06

Memebase and rage face repositories begin cataloging the 'Not Bad' face.

2012-08-26

President Obama participates in Reddit AMA; responds with 'NOT BAD' in apparent reference to his meme.

How to Use This Meme

The "Not Bad" Obama Face is typically used to express approval or pleasant surprise when an outcome exceeds expectations. In classic rage comic format, it appears as the final panel after a series of events leads to an unexpectedly positive result. The face works best when the approval is somewhat grudging or the positive outcome was initially doubted. Users often pair it with situations like receiving unexpected good news, witnessing someone perform better than anticipated, or acknowledging a clever comeback. The image can be used with or without the 'Not Bad' caption, as the expression alone conveys the meaning.