Barack Obama visits 10 Downing Street for surprise talks (and tea) with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after White House downplayed reports of 'rivalry' with Biden

Barack Obama made a surprise appearance in Downing Street for talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday while across the pond, the White House played down reports of a rivalry between President Joe Biden and his old boss.

The former US president waved and smiled as he strolled up to the famous No10 door on Monday afternoon.

It comes after Axios reported Biden and Obama do not speak frequently, but behind closed doors, Biden talks about Obama a lot. 

The report claimed Biden 'often measures himself against the man he served as vice president, current and former aides say.'

It stated there is a rivalry, particularly on Biden's side. But the White House pushed back on the reporting Monday.

'The two presidents, President Obama and President Biden, have a very good relationship,' said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. 'You all have seen it over the past several years.'

She said the two 'are like family to each other.'

Barack Obama made a surprise appearance in Downing Street for talks with Rishi Sunak today

It is not clear why Mr Obama is in the UK, and his visit was not included in the government's business diary for the day

Obama appearing with Biden and Vice President Harris at the White House in 2022

Obama has visited the White House several times since Biden took office in 2017. 

The former president first returned to the White House since he left office in April 2022 to celebrate the Affordable Care Act with Biden.

He was also there later that year for the unveiling of the official White House portraits of him and former First Lady Michelle Obama.  

More recently, the pair released an ad together for the ACA at the end of last year.

Later this month, Obama will join Biden and former President Bill Clinton for a first of its kind fundraiser in New York City as Biden makes a bid for a second term.

Obama has publicly praised Biden often and has already appeared in a Biden reelection campaign ad. 

He is expected to be a top surrogate for his former vice president as Biden runs for reelection in a likely rematch against former President Trump.

Obama and Biden together at the White House in September 2022 for the ceremony to unveil the official Obama White House portraits

Obama and Biden at the White House in April 2022 for an event to mark the passage of the Affordable Care Act

Obama's Downing Street visit, which lasted around an hour as the pair chatted in the PM's study, was described as a 'courtesy call' as Mr Obama happened to be in London.

It was the first time the two leaders had met, with the pair said to have discussed a range of subjects, including artificial intelligence, one-to-one in Margaret Thatcher’s former study over a cup of tea.

No 10 said little about the content of their conversation, but both men have two daughters and a shared agenda of promoting education and opportunities for girls. 

The former US president waved and smiled as he strolled up to the famous No10 door this afternoon

The agenda is a central mission of Mr Obama’s foundation, and speaking at a business event in Warwickshire earlier, the Prime Minister said: ‘I want my girls to grow up in an economy and society where there is no limit to their aspirations.’ 

Upon leaving the meeting he smiled and said 'I'm tempted' when he was asked his opinion on the state of Russian democracy by reporters before getting in a Range Rover with US ambassador to the UK Jane D Hartley just after 4pm. 

Mr Obama later held private talks with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.  

One of the highest profile previous trips by Mr Obama was 2016, when he notoriously stood alongside David Cameron and warned that Britain would be 'at the back of the queue' for a trade deal after leaving the EU.

That intervention amid the referendum battle sparked fury from Brexiteers, although they also regarded it as helpful to their anti-establishment campaign.

The UK has not signed a trade deal with the US, although there was a major push for one when Donald Trump was president.  

Mr Obama was in the White House from 2009 to 2017, with Biden serving as his vice president.

The PM's official spokesman said: 'He was making an informal courtesy drop-in as part of his trip to London, where he is conducting work of the Obama Foundation.'

The spokesman added: 'I think President Obama's team made contact and obviously the Prime Minister was very happy to meet with him and discuss the work of the Obama Foundation.'

A spokesperson for Obama declined to reveal the purpose of the visit instead referring DailyMail.com to the 10 Downing statement.