Obama's Unauthorized Times Square Ad for Weatherproof

by Amy Judd | January 6, 2010 at 05:32 pm

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First Michelle Obama has her image used in a PETA ad, and now it seems her husband is getting his turn.

A billboard has gone up in Times Square for Weatherproof with President Obama as its spokesmodel but the White House isn't happy about it. The photo was taken by the Associated Press when Obama visited the Great Wall of China in November and is not supposed to be used for a commercial purpose.

"The White House has a longstanding policy disapproving of the use of the president's name and likeness for commercial purposes," White House spokesman Ben LaBolt said in a written statement.

The White House has spoken to Weatherproof and requested that the billboard come down.

"This ad is clearly misleading because the company suggests the approval or endorsement of the president of the White House that it does not have," the official said.

Weatherproof said that while it did not get permission from the White House to use the picture, they did get permission to use the picture from the photographer.

The photo also appears on the company website with a deal for the jacket at only $99.99 now instead of $225.