"When the commander-in-chief says, 'I want to see advanced episodes,' what are you gonna do?"

Game of Thrones type TV Show network HBO Where to watch Close Streaming Options

“Mr. President? The fate of Jon Snow is about to be revealed in the screening room.”

At the Game of Thrones premiere event in Hollywood on Sunday, showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss confirmed rumors that Barack Obama wanted — and will get — episodes of their ultra-secret show ahead of their debut on HBO.

During HBO’s Facebook Live stream from the event’s red carpet, interviewer Veronica Belmont asked the Emmy-winning team if they had any “ah-ha … we’ve totally made it” moments coming into season 6.

“I think, for both of us, finding out the President wanted advanced copies of the episodes was an ‘ah-ha’ moment,” Weiss said. “That was a very strange moment.”

And did they say yes?

“Yes,” Weiss replied. “He’s the leader of the free world.”

Benioff added: “When the commander-in-chief says, ‘I want to see advanced episodes,’ what are you gonna do?”

HBO is remaining mum on the subject, but if Obama gets advanced copies, he’s the only person outside of HBO to do so. In an unprecedented move, HBO decided not to send any screeners to journalists or industry insiders. The move was to maintain the secrecy of the show’s season 6 storylines, which are expanding beyond the scope of author George R.R. Martin’s novels for the first time.

Last month, Thrones actor Liam Cunningham told Vulture that Obama gets advance copies of the show, though it wasn’t clear at the time if he was referring to season 6. “Did you know he gets advance copies? POTUS. He gets DVD copies before we do. And we’re in it!” the actor said.

Obama has previously said Thrones is one of his favorite shows. And he had apparently once expressed concern about the fate of the Night’s Watch Lord Commander. As Thrones director David Nutter told EW last summer: “Three weeks ago, I was the in the company of the President of the United States. He turned to me, put his hand on my shoulder, and said, ‘You didn’t kill Jon Snow did you?'” Nutter said he replied: “‘Jon Snow is deader than dead.”

If Donald Trump gets elected president this fall, the Thrones team might not give him the same coveted access. In a New York Times profile of Thrones star Peter Dinklage this weekend, columnist Maureen Dowd said Weiss had a dim view of the Republican frontrunner: “Weiss … says Trump reminds him of Hodor, a gigantic dimwit who answers every question with one word: his name.”

For the rest of the world, Thrones returns April 24.

Episode Recaps Previous The most memorable shipper moments of 2019 By Samantha Highfill

The 30 most shocking TV moments of 2019 By EW Staff

See photos of the Game of Thrones cast celebrating their last Emmys together By Tyler Aquilina

See the best Game of Thrones moments from Comic-Con 2019 By Nick Romano

Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke's adorable friendship, on and off the Game of Thrones set By Tyler Aquilina

All the times Emilia Clarke and Jason Momoa had a mini-Game of Thrones reunion By Tyler Aquilina

The 10 best couples on Game of Thrones (and 3 dishonorable mentions) By Tyler Aquilina

See all of EW's epic Game of Thrones covers By Jessica Derschowitz

Game of Thrones: 14 never-before-released final season photos By James Hibberd

All the Game of Thrones seasons, ranked By Darren Franich

Look back at the biggest Game of Thrones cameos By Derek Lawrence

Check out HBO's new Game of Thrones season 8 merch By EW Staff

S8 E3 Recap Game of Thrones recap of Winterfell battle: A dark, epic bloodbath By James Hibberd

See Game of Thrones stars with and without their beards By Jillian Sederholm

11 of the best Game of Thrones gifts for diehard fans By Alex Warner

S8 E1 Recap Game of Thrones season 8 premiere recap: Jon finds out By James Hibberd

Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness breaks down the best hair on Game of Thrones By Piya Sinha-Roy

25 of TV's best opening credit sequences By EW Staff

See Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner at Game of Thrones premieres through the years By Lauren Morgan

See all the stars at the Game of Thrones premiere after-party By EW Staff

See all the Game of Thrones stars at the season 8 premiere By James Hibberd

Valar morghulis: 20 Game of Thrones stars look back on their character deaths By Nick Romano

Game of Thrones storyboard artist breaks down the death of Jon Snow By Christian Holub Next