Actually, I don't know about that, but I think the whole incident reflected the genius and nuanced approach of Obama vis a vis race relations.

He took a really hot, and really divisive issue, then said, "we DRINK!!  And bury the hatchet."  It worked, back then, as to that particuar issue.  Calmed down the professor, calmed down law enforcement, and, I think, was at the very least an attempt to seek understanding in the midst of racial tension.  Really brilliant.  And a stark contrast to the Trump approach.

Seems like he also made a decision at that point to BE NUANCED, because he was in just about every racial situation thereafter, and very contrary to what Diver Dave wrote, did not "always" choose to go against the police.

Obama was really smart about things.  Trump, alternatively, is an idiot.