WASHINGTON Former President Barack Obama returned to the White House on Tuesday, in order to celebrate the Affordable Care Acts accomplishments and to promote President Joe Biden s efforts to bolster the 2010 health care law.

Along the way, Obama also reminded Americans of a lesson he learned while president: Governing is a lot harder than it looks.

Obamas visit marked his first visit to the White House since leaving office in January 2017 a time when the very existence of the Affordable Care Act , also known as Obamacare, was in doubt. Donald Trump had just become president, Republicans had taken full control of Congress and repeal was literally the first item on their agenda.

That effort failed and, today, the Affordable Care Act is more politically secure than ever, with polls consistently showing majority support and Republicans mostly avoiding talk of repeal. Meanwhile, the number of uninsured Americans is at a historic low, an accomplishment Obama was quick to highlight in his remarks.

Nothing made me prouder than providing better health care and more protections to millions of people across this country, Obama said.