Obama mocks himself on The Colbert Report

US President Barack Obama (left) appears on The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert at the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University in Washington on Dec 8, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
US President Barack Obama (left) appears on The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert at the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University in Washington on Dec 8, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama took on the role of talk show host late Monday, poking fun at himself during an appearance on Stephen Colbert's satirical show.

"The guy is so arrogant, I bet he talks about himself in the third person," a grinning Obama said as he slipped into Colbert's role.

After Colbert praised US unemployment figures, Obama launched into a long answer on the need to raise the minimum wage in America.

"I'll give it to you. You've employed a lot of people ... mostly as secretary of Defense," Colbert said, speaking several days after Obama nominated his fourth Pentagon chief in six years.

"Well - that's boosted our numbers a little bit," the president shot back.

Prying into the realm of day to day stuff, Colbert asked Obama if he does things like leave his socks on the floor.

"I do," the US chief executive said.

And does he like his job?

"I love the job. It's an incredible privilege," Obama said.

"But when you're in it, you're not thinking about it in terms of titles. You're thinking about, how do you deliver for the American people, and also when I go home, Michelle, Malia, Sasha give me a hard time and there are no trumpets and they tease me mercilessly," Obama said.

Colbert, who first became known as a commentator on the "Daily Show" hosted by Jon Stewart, another staple of US TV comedy, has hosted for nearly 10 years "The Colbert Report", which is highly popular.

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