Barack Obama‘s eldest daughter may have turned 26 today, but she’ll always be his little girl.
The former president’s daughter Malia was coincidentally born on July 4, and he shared a sweet throwback photo on Instagram to celebrate the occasion. In the photo, Barack and Malia are strolling down a sidewalk hand-in-hand. The two Obamas were dressed in matching outfits, the politician in a chambray button-down and khaki slacks and his daughter in a denim-on-denim look of blue jeans, a blue and white floral shirt, and a jean jacket with colorful floral embroidery.
Barack, holding a blue kickball, appeared to be talking while Malia beamed up at her dad with the most heartwarming look of adoration. The shot is so sweet and wholesome that you might find yourself reaching for a tissue. It’s one of his best girl dad photos, and he has quite a few!
“Happy birthday, Malia,” the 44th president’s caption began. “One of the greatest joys of my life is watching you grow into the extraordinary woman you’ve become today – and the fact that you’re still willing to hold your dad’s hand in public!” Barack joked.
Michelle Obama also shared a birthday tribute for Malia on her Instagram, digging even further back into the photo archives for an adorable picture of her daughter as a toddler. The former first lady wrote, “Happy birthday, Malia! No matter how old you get, you’ll always be my little pea and I’ll always be proud of you. You deserve the world and more. ❤️”
Since pursuing her undergraduate degree at Harvard University, Malia has become a filmmaker and TV writer. She and her younger sister Sasha, 23, live together in California, but unlike a certain former governor of the state who also works in the entertainment industry, the Obama daughters will “never” follow in their dad’s political footsteps, according to the former POTUS himself.
Before you go, check out these celebrity dads who have the sweetest bonds with their daughters.
