On April 18, 2011, during the third annual White House Passover Seder in the Old Family Dining Room, photographer Pete Souza captured what would become one of the most hilariously

On April 18, 2011, during the third annual White House Passover Seder in the Old Family Dining Room, photographer Pete Souza captured what would become one of the most hilariously relatable moments in presidential history—little Claudia Moser, daughter of Obama staffer Laura Moser and White House videographer Arun Chaudhary, throwing an epic toddler meltdown while President Barack Obama and the entire Seder table looked on with expressions ranging from amused sympathy to barely contained laughter. This photograph is extraordinary not just because it’s genuinely funny, but because it reveals the beautiful informality and genuine family atmosphere that the Obamas cultivated in the White House, transforming what could have been stuffy political gatherings into warm, authentic celebrations where staff children could be themselves, tantrums and all. The White House Seder tradition itself has a remarkable origin story—it began during the grueling 2008 Pennsylvania primary when Obama campaign staffers held an impromptu Passover meal in a basement hotel conference room, and Obama was so moved by the experience that he promised if he won, they’d continue the tradition in the White House, making him the first president ever to host an annual Seder, a powerful symbol of religious inclusion and respect. Laura Moser later admitted the photo was initially embarrassing, but she came to cherish it as a reminder that even in the most important rooms in America, kids are still kids, and parents everywhere understand that moment of mortification when your child completely loses it in public, regardless of whether that public happens to include the President of the United States. What makes this image so endearing is Obama’s expression—not annoyance or discomfort, but the knowing smile of a father who’d survived countless Malia and Sasha meltdowns, his empathy and humor shining through, reminding us that the best leaders are those who never forget what it means to be beautifully, messily human.