The artist who designed Obama's 'Hope' poster has lost hope in him

(Image credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

last updated 28 May 2015

Street artist Shepard Fairey, who designed the iconic "Hope" poster for President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, told Esquire he doesn't have much, well, hope for Obama anymore.

When asked if the president has lived up to his iconic poster, he replied "Not even close." Fairey continued:

Obama has had a really tough time, but there have been a lot of things that he's compromised on that I never would have expected. I mean, drones and domestic spying are the last things I would have thought [he'd support]. I've met Obama a few times, and I think Obama's a quality human being, but I think that he finds himself in a position where your actions are largely dictated by things out of your control. I'm not giving him a pass for not being more courageous, but I do think the entire system needs an overhaul and taking money out of politics would be a really good first step. [Esquire]

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Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.