The 'Obama Awards Obama a Medal' meme is a popular photoshopped image featuring former U.S. President Barack Obama placing a Medal of Freedom around his own neck. The original image dates back to 2016 when Obama presented the real award to musician Bruce Springsteen, but the edited version surfaced in 2019 and quickly became a viral sensation. It is primarily used to represent situations where someone is praising themselves, taking credit for their own minor accomplishments, or exhibiting blatant hypocrisy. It has become the go-to template for depicting humorous self-congratulation across social media, from celebrating small personal wins to mocking corporate entities that award themselves for basic service.