Barack Obama: Beyoncé is the perfect role model for my daughters

President also jokes with Jay-Z at fundraising dinner in New York, saying 'our wives are more popular than we are' Barack Obama has revealed the extent to which he is a fan of Beyoncé, claiming she is the perfect "role model" for his daughters. The singer and her husband, Jay-Z, hosted a fundraiser for the US president's re-election campaign in New York on Tuesday. Tickets cost $40,000 per head. The couple held the event at Jay-Z's 40/40 club, with Beyoncé taking to the stage to introduce Obama, saying they "believe in his vision". The president – who has two daughters, Sasha, 11, and Malia, 14 – returned the compliments when he took over the microphone. "To J and B, thank you so much for your friendship. Beyoncé could not be a better role model for my girls," he said, according to US Weekly. Obama also joked about what he has in common with Jay-Z. "We both have daughters and our wives are more popular than we are. So, you know, we've got a little bond there. It's hard but it's OK," he said. The president subsequently tweeted a photo of the encounter, captioning it: "A couple supporters in a New York state of mind last night." Beyoncé wrote an open letter to Michelle Obama in April, praising her for being a fantastic role model.