President Obama has wielded the power of the presidency to push his agenda in Congress and broker deals with countries around the world.

But when it comes to his friends, he likes to leave all that aside.

"And they're around a lot. You — you have them here a lot," former Obama political adviser David Axelrod said during a recent interview with the president , mentioning they never refer to him as "Mr. President."

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"They do not," Obama said.

The president said his relationships with his friends and immediate family help keep him grounded.

"One gift I do seem to have is getting really, really good friends around me who've got my back. And that gives you a certain serenity in the midst of a lot of foolishness," Obama said.