Obama's comment on Michelle taken as oral sex joke

A comment made by US President Barack Obama on first lady Michelle beating a TV host in push-ups has been interpreted by many people as a joke about his wife having oral sex, a media report said.

Obama, talking to around 600 supporters at a fundraiser for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Leadership Council, spoke about stand-up comedian and television host and a known lesbian, Ellen DeGeneres, the Daily Mail reported.

"I want to thank my wonderful friend (DeGeneres) who accepts a little bit of teasing about Michelle beating her in push-ups but I think she claims Michelle didn't go all the way down," Obama said, sending the crowd into peals of laughter.

The Dallas Morning News said it was a sentence that Obama "let hang, naughtily, provoking laughter from the crowd".

It was, however, unclear whether Obama uttered a deliberate statement about his wife having oral sex with a lesbian or whether his phrase was misinterpreted by the crowd.

The Los Angeles Times said: "The president seemed briefly caught off-stride when the audience interpreted as off-colour a joke he made about a push-up competition between DeGeneres and his wife, initiated by the talk show host in February."

"Obama kept a straight face. 'That's what I heard,' he said. 'I just want to set the record straight. Michelle outdoes me in push-ups as well. You shouldn't feel bad," the newspaper said.

Obama spoke for 30 minutes and highlighted measures that have been applauded by the gay lobby, including his repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule that bans open homosexuality.