President Barack Obama, while taping an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on Thursday, said that he doesn’t really miss campaigning except for one aspect of it: Getting out of Washington, “which can sometimes be a little depressing.”

“Well to get out of Washington or what part is depressing?” DeGeneres asked.

“Well, Washington,” he said, drawing some laughs at the deadpan delivery.

Obama was in Los Angeles on Thursday for an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and a pair of fundraisers in Hancock Park, before spending the weekend in Palm Springs.

He also talked about gay rights, saying that “one of the things I’m proudest of because my whole political career has been based on the idea that we constantly want to include people and not exclude them.” He praised DeGeneres, telling her, that “changing hearts and minds I don’t think anybody’s been more influential than you on that. I really mean it.”

Obama also talked about how he had figured out how not to fight with wife Michelle Obama.

“Ya know, after about 15 years I finally figured out that she’s always right,” he said, as the audience laughed.

Obama watched a videotaped Valentine’s Day message that his wife sent to be played on the show, after which DeGeneres had him create his own message, actually a comedy bit. “I love you so much. I Obamacare more about you than you even know.”

In another part of his visit to the show, Obama answers questions from 6-year-old Macey Hensley, a presidential expert, including one on whether the U.S. has made contact with aliens.

This was Obama’s first in-studio visit with DeGeneres since taking office. The interview airs on Friday.

Photo: Michael Rozman/Warner Bros.

Watch some of the excerpts below:





