Obama Shops to Support ‘Small Business Saturday,' Buys Books

President Barack Obama has done his part to support independently owned businesses as the holiday shopping season begins.

Obama bought at least two bags of books Saturday during a stop at Washington's Politics and Prose bookstore.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving has been promoted in recent years as "Small Business Saturday.'' It's designed to encourage shopping at independent stores in between the frenzy of Black Friday sales at large retailers and Cyber Monday deals from online sellers.

Obama browsed the racks with his daughters Malia and Sasha.

He held one shopper's baby and was encouraged by another patron to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Obama replied that he's working on closing the prison.

There was no immediate word from the White House on which titles Obama bought.