The Barack and Kumar 2013 meme stems from a 2012 Democratic National Convention promotional video featuring actor Kal Penn and President Barack Obama. Kal Penn, famous for his role as Kumar in the Harold & Kumar film series, served as an Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Engagement. The meme captures a phone conversation between the two, playing on the surreal overlap between stoner comedy and the executive branch. It remains a fan favorite for its unique blend of pop culture and political history, often used to joke about unlikely partnerships.