Obama Speaks about Michael Jackson for the First Time

The president responded that he knows "a lot of people in the black community, and I haven't heard that."

(To recap: Obama's spokesman spoke on the president's behalf during a White House briefing last week, and the White House issued a written statement over the weekend that the President had sent a condolence letter to the Jackson family.)

Today, Obama offered his public reaction, praising the legacy of Jackson -- while also noting the troubling aspects of his life.

"Michael Jackson is -- will go down in history as one of the greatest entertainers," he said. "I grew up on his music, still have all his stuff on my iPod. You know, I think his brilliance as a performer also was paired with a tragic and in many ways sad personal life. But, you know, I am glad to see that he is being remembered primarily for the great joy that he brought to a lot of people through his extraordinary gifts as an entertainer."