Reports of investigation after Barack and Michelle Obama’s Sydney Harbour Bridge climb

An investigation has reportedly been launched after Barack and Michelle Obama’s Sydney Harbour Bridge climb came under scrutiny.

Former US President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb has come under scrutiny, with reports an investigation has now been launched.

The couple were photographed climbing the iconic bridge without the standard jumpsuits, and they didn’t appear to be wearing clip-on harnesses.

Instead the couple were all smiles while they climbed the bridge in basic activewear.

It’s understood a request to climb the Bridge from Obama’s team was facilitated by Transport for NSW.

While a spokesperson said their visits followed the standard safety protocols in place for visiting dignitaries, The Daily Mail has since reported that the climb is under investigation due to safety concerns.

The Former USA President and First Lady, Barack and Michelle Obama doing the iconic bridge climb. Picture: MEDIA-MODE.COM

The publication reported that a Transport for NSW source said officials were now investigating how Ms Obama came to be on the bridge doing the climb without anyone noticing the jumper tied around her waist.

Photos from the day show Ms Obama with a jumper around her waist and members of the Obama’s team were seen with their mobile phones in their hands, sparking further safety concerns.

The pair were climbing the bridge during daylight, and therefore the usual hustle and bustle of traffic were directly beneath them.

“The idea of a jumper or a phone falling from above onto the windscreen of a car below doesn’t bear thinking about,” director of Benchmark OHS, Ben Chinwah, told The Daily Mail.

Oprah put on the iconic jumpsuit for the climb in 2010.

PM Anthony Albanese pictured with former US President Barack Obama in Sydney. Picture: Twitter/@AlboMP

A spokesperson for Transport NSW told news.com.au that the “visit followed standard safety protocols that are in place for visiting dignitaries, and are regularly implemented.”

They confirmed a “routine review process is undertaken” as part of “security protocols with all dignitary visits”.

The former president arrived in Sydney at the start of the week for a highly anticipated series of talks with former Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop – it has been a sellout event.

Earlier in the week Mr Obama was also spotted posing for a photo with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the pouring rain and hundreds of people had braved the weather to sight Barack while he was visiting Kirribilli House.

Former US President Barack Obama and former US First Lady Michelle Obama Picture: Saul Loeb/AFP

In his Sydney appearance Obama said it was after he left office that China began to change, suggesting President Xi Jingping sensed his successor, Donald Trump, would be more lenient.

“With my successor coming in, I think he (Xi) saw an opportunity because the US president didn’t seem to care that much about a rules-based international system,” he said.

“And so as a consequence, I think China’s attitude as well, we can take advantage of what appears to be a vacuum internationally on a lot of these issues.”

The former President also warned the “significantly strained” relationship between the US and China wasn’t “going to go away anytime soon”.

“The fact of the matter is … if China starts claiming what had previously been international waters that is going to make life difficult for its neighbours, and for everyone, long term, I don’t even think it’s going to be good for China.”

Originally published as Reports of investigation after Barack and Michelle Obama’s Sydney Harbour Bridge climb