Sunday on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” host Chuck Todd took President Barack Obama to task for the optics of going golfing moments after his statement on ISIS beheading journalist James Foley. Obama complained during his vacations he would “love” not to be followed by the press.

“You know, it is always a challenge when you’re supposed to be on vacation, because you’re followed everywhere, part of what I would love is a vacation from the press,” Obama said.

The president did take some responsibility saying, “But there’s no doubt that after having talked to the families, where it was hard for me to hold back tears listening to the pain that they were going through, after the statement that I made, I should have anticipated the optics. That’s part of the job.”

Referring to the Foley insensitivity as ‘theater” he said, “But part of this job is also the theater. It’s not something that always comes naturally to me. But it matters, and I’m mindful of that.”

Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN