City Journal titled him the shadow president. https://www.city-journal.org/html/shadow-president-15340.html https://www.city-journal.org/html/shadow-president-1

City Journal titled him the shadow president. https://www.city-journal.org/html/shadow-president-15340.html https://www.city-journal.org/html/shadow-president-15340.htm... The opening paragraph says it all... """After leaving the White House in January 2017, Barack Obama and his family set out to do what all newly retired presidents have done—go back home, or find a new one. In Obama’s case, though, the new residence is in Washington, D.C. At first, the Obamas presented their choice as temporary—they wanted to let their younger daughter, Sasha, finish high school in Washington, they said—but their purchase of an 8,200-square-foot, $8 million mansion suggests a permanent stay. Obama’s postpresidency is thus shaping up to be virtually unique in American history: rather than departing Washington, he is planting his flag there, establishing, in effect, a shadow presidency. Obama’s move breaks with long-standing precedent. Conscious of threats to the safe transfer of executive power in the young republic, America’s early presidents departed Washington on the expiration of their terms."""