Former President Obama joked that he “was born in Kenya” during the kick-off of the Obama Foundation’s first global summit Tuesday.

Obama cracked the joke when he took to the stage in Chicago to welcome those attending the summit.

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“The reason I’m so excited to see you all here today in part is because this is were I started,” Obama said.

“This isn’t where I was born, I was born in Kenya,” he said to laughter, quickly adding, “that’s a joke.”

The joke was a reference to the birther movement, largely promoted by President Trump during Obama's time as president, alleging that Obama was not born in the U.S. The former president was born in Hawaii.

Obama also banned selfies with him or his wife Michelle at the event, USA Today reported.

"It may seem trivial, but it's not," he said. "I say this because ... one of the weird things about becoming president is I found that people were no longer looking me in the eye and shaking my hand."