Barack Obama On Steve Jobs: 'He Was Among The Greatest Of American Innovators'

President Barack Obama has released a statement paying tribute to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who passed away Wednesday and was remembered by Obama as "among the greatest of American innovators."

"The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented," Obama wrote. "Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world."

Obama was joined by luminaries from the tech industry, such as Bill Gates, Larry Page and Mark Zuckerberg in honoring Jobs' contributions and offering their condolences to his family. Politicians also chimed in. Mitt Romney, for example, said Steve Jobs "is an inspiration to American entrepreneurs" who "will be missed," while John Boehner tweeted, "Steve Jobs changed the world for the better w/ his innovations & genius. R.I.P."

Read the full text of Obama's statement on Steve Jobs below. Click here for a look at how tech leaders have reflected on Jobs' death.

Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was among the greatest of American innovators - brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it. By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity. By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun. And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world. The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve’s wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him.

Comments

[nerak2822]

02:34 PM on 10/07/2011

How many times did he call Jobs for advice when he was alive?? Absolutely disgusting that he would use him for a sound bite now!!!

[nerak2822]

02:28 PM on 10/07/2011

But he was a billionaire corporate evil capitalist--?Obie you CANT have it both ways

[atx888]

03:11 AM on 10/07/2011

Jobs and Obama have one thing in common. Their fathers are foreign born. Jobs is Syrian Arab and Obama is African ancestry. They both rise to the top of their chosen profession.

[l78lancer]

02:58 AM on 10/07/2011

Some things really aren't about politics.

[delonah]

02:13 AM on 10/07/2011

YEP, JUST AS I THOUGHT, YOU WOULDN'T POST THIS ONE EITHER. YOU'RE A BUNCH OF OBABMA BLEEDING HEART LIBERALS.

[l78lancer]

02:59 AM on 10/07/2011

If you don't feel very silly, you really should.

[tristanaderion]

07:52 PM on 10/06/2011

And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented.

Mr. Jobs is the America everyone envisions. My grandfather invented a product in his garage during the Great Depression, because of necessity to feed his family and he had alot of time on his hands. Mr. Jobs did change the world. The first computer I had access to at home was an Apple III. As said below, leave politics out of this. Its very disrespectful.

[w7o7l7f7]

07:41 PM on 10/06/2011

Hopefully the socialists are not rejoicing the death of a true American Hero ..Mr. Jobs was the perfect example of what an entrpreneur can achieve with FREEDOM and Vision,, all the while being viciously attacked for being the leader of a "big" evil business....May in his death we are all reminded that success is up to the person in the mirror ,, not a government handout.. R.I.P.

[LeftWingLift]

11:34 PM on 10/06/2011

Good comment - Fan #25

[Billybladerunner]

01:30 AM on 10/07/2011

excellent comment fanned

[joeshop8]

07:35 PM on 10/06/2011

Amn absolutly brilliant innovative Man. They seem to be few and far between.

[olehippi]

06:17 PM on 10/06/2011

Steve Jobs was a visionary who did change the world, and that vision was cut short. It's too bad Obama couldn't have taken some "visionary" lessons from Jobs before he died.

[nerak2822]

02:29 PM on 10/07/2011

Obie hates successful Capitalists unless he needs a photo op or sound bite

[C T Andrews]

08:50 PM on 10/06/2011

Too bad your decency died. Your comment is vile.

[l78lancer]

03:02 AM on 10/07/2011

That comment was as stupid as it was unnecessary.

Flagged.

[GWBsuxone]

05:52 PM on 10/06/2011

you idiots make ann coulter look smart - now we've established shes got the iq of a box of rox

[GWBsuxone]

05:51 PM on 10/06/2011

well i can see the righty tighties are out and about - looks like there won't be much support for obama today since most of his supporters are out protesting wall street - while the real whiney biotchie hypocrits post this site that was intended to honor a great american innovator - instead of using your heads , you've allowed your mouths to run amuck once again about stuff you know absolutely or stupidly nothing about !!

[mrprogreso]

09:50 PM on 10/06/2011

you da man, suxone

[zmanusmc]

12:20 AM on 10/07/2011

good

[LeftWingLift]

11:37 PM on 10/06/2011

Son....you're days must be very full.....
Appears the left is having a hard time containing those hateful emotions....

[Jerald Lawson]

05:45 PM on 10/06/2011

Hey mods..wake up!! If you are willing to censor nearly every comment I've made on here for absolutely no reason at all...why are you letting all of these comments be posted wishing the death of the President? I am really getting fed up with the way comments are handled on this site. I have posted thing with no profanity and no controversy at all and yet you censor them....but wishing for the death of the President is perfectly okay. You are causing people to cancel their accounts...I may follow.

[nerak2822]

02:30 PM on 10/07/2011

It's Huffington-don't expect an unbiased review

[GWBsuxone]

05:44 PM on 10/06/2011

i'm sure the world has lost a "great visionary " , but most of all this country has lost a saviour , if it wasn't for Jobs or people like Gates , we'd have been in the dumps back in the late 80's early 90's - with the introduction of the personnal computer , it catapulted this nation into another realm of prosperity - like the 40's 50's and 60's , it was the automotive industry that kept america workin , with all the other ammenities such as appliances electronics etc. all that took a right turn and left the country - the personnal computer and all that software created a whole new industry - with that bein said Jobs was a savour , to say the least !!

[insomniaticcat]

05:24 PM on 10/06/2011

I rarely, if ever, agree with anything Obama has to say, however, today I wholeheartedly agree. The loss of Steve Jobs definitely hit my kids hard because to them, he's the genius, inventor, and visionary of their lifetime that they can totally relate to. Nothing against Edison or Ford, but for the youth of today, that's just history book "stuff." Steve Jobs and Apple are real to them, something very tangible. Of course, his name belongs with any of the inventors and idea men of the past, as well as those of our future. Many, many thanks to you, Steve Jobs, for a live well-lived. Rest in peace, and many blessings and condolences to your family and close friends.

[nerak2822]

02:33 PM on 10/07/2011

I thought Obama hated successful Capitalists who dont pay their fair share of his freeloader agenda. Oh yeah, he needed a photo op/sound bite today so it's a love feast. How many times did he call Jobs for advice when he was alive?? Disgusting that he has anything to say about this truly great American

[Svetlana Marzeli]

11:30 AM on 10/08/2011

Well, it seems you thought wrong.

Out of curiosity, what would advice would Jobs have for a president?