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Oops! Obama messes up his daughter’s age

President twice refers to Malia as 13 at press conference — but she’s 12

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Image: Malia and Sasha Obama
Charles Dharapak  /  Pool via Reuters
Malia Obama, top, and Sasha Obama, right, were embraced by children last week on a trip to South Africa.
updated 6/29/2011 7:47:26 PM ET 2011-06-29T23:47:26

WASHINGTON — They grow up so fast. But not that fast, Mr. President.

In a news conference Wednesday, President Barack Obama twice referred to his oldest daughter, Malia, as being 13 years old.

Not quite. She's 12.

Perhaps the president was already thinking ahead to Malia's approaching birthday: She turns 13 on July 4.

Slideshow: The first daughters (on this page)

Obama spoke about both of his daughters as he characterized congressional Republicans as procrastinators who only get work done at the last minute. The president is prodding Republicans to reach a deal on raising the national debt limit before the government taps out its borrowing ability on the expected date of Aug. 2.

"You know, Malia and Sasha generally finish their homework a day ahead of time," Obama said. "Malia's 13, Sasha's 10."

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Photos: The first daughters

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  1.  Related video Michelle Obama meets Nelson Mandela

    The first daughters

    First lady Michelle Obama stands with daughters Sasha, second from the right, and Malia, on the right, as they are welcomed Friday, June 24, by traditional dancers in Gaborone, Botswana. (Charles Dharapak / Pool via AP) Back to slideshow navigation

  2. Historic visit

    Former South African President Nelson Mandela, right, poses with first lady Michelle Obama and her daughters Malia, left, and Sasha at his home in Johannesburg on June 21. (Debbie Yazbek / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Image: U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama Visits South Africa
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  3. Bringing Dr. Seuss to Africa

    First lady Michelle Obama, daughters Sasha, center, and Malia take turns reading to children from "The Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss as they visit the Emthonjeni Community Center in Zandspruit Township, Johannesburg on June 21. (Charles Dharapak / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  4. Space: The final frontier

    President Barack Obama, daughters Malia, left, Sasha, first lady Michelle Obama and her mother Marian Robinson, partially hidden, examine the tiled underbelly and landing gear of Space Shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on April 29. In an interview, Obama concedes he's nervous about his daughter Malia turning 13 on July 4. Asked how he'd feel about Malia's starting to date, he said he might ask the date "what his GPA is" and what his intentions and career plans are. (Charles Dharapak / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
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  5. Ready, set, go!

    Malia, right, Sasha and other younger children wait for the starting whistle during the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 25. (Chip Somodevilla / Pool via EPA) Back to slideshow navigation
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  6. Iconic Rio landmark visit

    President Barack Obama with first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha tour the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, on March 20. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
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  7. Helping out

    President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day by participating in a community service project at the Stuart Hobson Middle School in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 17. They are joined by their daughters, Malia, right, and Sasha. (J. Scott Applewhite / AP) Back to slideshow navigation

  8. Returning home

    President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters disembark from Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland in Aug. 29, 2010 upon their return from a family vacation in Martha's Vineyard. (Jewel Samad / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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  9. Queen of the world

    President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughter Sasha take a boat ride in St. Andrews Bay in Panama City Beach, Fla., on Aug. 2010. (Susan Walsh / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
    Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Malia Obama, Sasha Obama
    Related story The First Daughters
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  10. Hole in one

    Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama give their daughter Sasha a high five after she got a hole in one at Pirate's Island Miniature Golf Aug. 2010 in Panama City Beach, Florida.

    The First Family is visiting the area to help promote tourism and check up on cleanup efforts from the aftermath of the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. (Dan Anderson / Pool photo via Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related interactive Michelle Obama is right: Take kids on individual vacations
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  11. Princess for a day

    Spain's Queen Sofia, right, embraces Sasha Obama in presence of first lady Michelle Obama and Spain's King Juan Carlos, center, as they arrive at the Marivent Palace, in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Aug. 2010. Michelle and Sasha toured parts of Europe as part of a private trip with longtime family friends. (Manu Mielniezuk / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
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  12. Perk of presidential kid

    President Barack Obama and Sasha react to the halftime show during the game between the Washington Mystics and the Tulsa Shock at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C., in August 2010. (Ned Dishman / NBAE via Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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  13. On top of the world

    Malia talks to Ryan Hutcherson, left, a member of the White House advance staff, as the first family visits Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine, in July 2010. (Charles Dharapak / AP) Back to slideshow navigation

  14. Moment with dad

    President Barack Obama and his daughter Malia arrive for Malia's soccer game at Rudolph Elementary School in Washington, D.C., in June 2010. (Yuri Gripas / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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  15. A Christmas reading

    Michelle Obama and her daughters Sasha and Malia read Christmas stories to children at the Children's National Medical Center Dec. 22, 2009 in Washington, D.C. The first lady toured the hospital visiting the Heart and Kidney Unit before greeting 200 patients and hospital staff. (Mark Wilson / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  16. Forgiving a fowl

    President Barack Obama, right, stands alongside a turkey named Courage as his daughters Malia and Sasha and National Turkey Federation Chairman Walter Pelletier, second from the left, pet the bird during the annual turkey pardoning ceremony at the White House on Nov. 25, 2009.

    After the ceremony, the 20-week-old, 45-pound turkey from Princeton, North Carolina, along with a backup named Carolina, will fly to Disneyland in southern California to take part in the theme park's annual Thanksgiving Day parade. (Saul Loeb / AFP/Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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  17. On the precipice

    The first family tour Hopi Point at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona in August 2009. (Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  18. Peace on shirt

    Malia Obama walks along Rome historical center in Rome, Italy on July 8, 2009, while the president was preparing for three days of G8 talks in Italy. She was sporting a T-shirt featuring the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament's famous logo. (Schiavella-giglia / EPA) Back to slideshow navigation
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  19. Stately visit

    President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha, left, and Malia step off Air Force One upon arrival at Vnukovo Airport outside Moscow on July 6, 2009. The girls later toured the Kremlin with the first lady while the president met with Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev. (Denis Sinyakov / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related video Obama girls see the world
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  20. Vive la France!

    Michelle Obama and her daughters Sasha (left) and Malia arrive at the Pompidou Centre modern art museum in Paris on June 7, 2009. The family were cheered by huge crowds as they visited the Notre Dame cathedral. (Martin Bureau / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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  21.  Related slideshow Who’s a good Bo?

    See Bo go

    Malia Obama runs with first dog Bo, followed by her father, President Barack Obama, and sister, Sasha, on the South Lawn of the White House in April 2009. (Ron Edmonds / AP) Back to slideshow navigation

  22. Daddy's girls

    President Barack Obama leans over to talk to his daughters Malia, center, and Sasha at the start of the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn, April 13, 2009. (Charles Dharapak / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
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  23. White House walk

    President Barack Obama walks down the White House Colonnade with his arms around daughters Malia, left, and Sasha on March 5, 2009. (Pete Souza / The White House via Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
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  24. Winter in Washington

    First lady Michelle Obama sleds with daughters Malia, left, and Sasha in the snow on the South Lawn of the White House in March 2009. (Pete Souza / The White House via Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation

  25. First family

    President Barack Obama visits with his daughters Sasha, with arm around him, and Malia as he kisses first lady Michelle Obama in a private study off the Oval Office on Feb. 2, 2009. (Pete Souza / The White House) Back to slideshow navigation

  26. Hello, dollies

    Dolls "Sweet Sasha," left, and "Marvelous Malia" sit on the counter at Lamont's gift shop in Chicago's Ritz-Carlton hotel on January 22. The dolls are from the Ty Girlz collection made by Ty Inc, the makers of Beanie Babies. The store quickly sold out of its first shipment of the dolls. (Scott Olson / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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  27. Hail to the daddy

    Malia Obama, left, snaps a picture of her father in his tuxedo as sister Sasha jumps for joy before the inaugural balls in Washington on Jan. 20, 2009. (Pete Souza / The White House via EPA) Back to slideshow navigation
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  28. Proud moment

    President Barack Obama has his hand on Abraham Lincoln's bible on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2009, as Michelle Obama holds the book and daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7 look on proudly. (Chuck Kennedy / Pool via EPA) Back to slideshow navigation
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  29. Chilly but cheerful

    Maya Soetoro-Ng, Barack Obama's sister, right, stands with his daughters, Sasha, right, and Malia along with Marian Robinson, mother of Michelle Obama, left, as they arrive for the inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on a brisk Jan. 20, 2009. (Jae C. Hong / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
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  30. Helping hands

    Then president-elect Barack Obama, wife Michelle (left) and daughters Sasha (second from left) and Malia pass out food at St. Columbanus Parish and School on Nov. 26, 2008, in Chicago. (Frank Polich / Pool via Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  31. Off to school

    Then president-elect Obama drops his daughters Malia, left, and Sasha off at school in Chicago on Nov. 10, 2008. At right is a U.S. Secret Service agent. (Charles Dharapak / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
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  32. Daddy's here!

    Then-presidential candidate Barack Obama is welcomed by wife Michelle and daughters Malia (center) and Sasha upon landing in Pueblo, Colo., on Nov. 1, 2008. (Emmanuel Dunand / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  33. Aloha

    Then president-elect Barack Obama walks the beach with his daughters Malia, left, and Sasha during his vacation in Kailua, Hawaii. (Marco Garcia / AP) Back to slideshow navigation

  34. A kiss for Daddy

    Sasha blows a kiss to her dad while he addresses the gathering via satellite at the Democratic National Convention in Denver as mom Michelle and sister Malia look on. (Charlie Neibergall / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
    Image: U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama step aboard the USS Arizona Memorial where they tossed flowers into Pearl Harbor
    Related slideshow Michelle Obama's effortless style

  35. Family gathering

    Then-presidential candidate Barack Obama and wife Michelle watch an Independence Day parade with their daughters Malia, right, and Sasha in Butte, Mont., on July 4, 2008. (Jae C. Hong / AP) Back to slideshow navigation

  36. Co-campaigners

    Then presidential hopeful Barack Obama stands with Malia, left, and Sasha, as he is introduced by wife Michelle, right, at Headwaters Park in Fort Wayne, Ind., during the 2008 presidential campaign. (Jae C. Hong / AP) Back to slideshow navigation

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  1. Image: Michelle Obama is welcomed by traditional dancers as they arrive in Gaborone, Botswana
    Charles Dharapak / Pool via AP
    Above: Slideshow (36) The first daughters
  2. John Kennedy Jr. playing in the Oval Office
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    Slideshow (16) First sons and daughters

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