Barack Obama faces storm of protest after going on U.S. version of Loose Women

His country is engaged in two wars, the oil spill is raging and the economy is tanking.

But US President Barack Obama has enraged critics by fighting back - with an appearance on a TV chatshow.

Mr Obama today became the first serving president in history to appear on such a programme when he was a guest on The View, the American equivalent of ITV’s Loose Women.

Special guest: President Barack Obama appeared alongside (left to right) Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Joy Behar and Sherri Shepherd

On the hour-long show, which is hosted by five opinionated women including Whoopi Goldberg and veteran US journalist Barbara Walters, he faced questions on everything from government to family life.

Asked by Walters what had been the rose and the thorn in the last month, a reference to the Obama family tradition of taking stock of their lives, he said: ‘In the last month the rose has to be a couple of days we took in Maine with Michelle, Sasha and Malia.’

‘They're full of opinions and ideas and observations and it's just a great age ... Malia just turned 12 and Sasha 9. Couldn't been a better couple of days.’

Asked what the ‘thorn’ was, he got a laugh from the audience when he replied: ‘Where do I begin?’

He added: ‘Obviously the country has gone through a tough stretch.

Relaxed: The President looked at ease as he discussed a range of issues with the hosts of The View

That's a good question: Mr Obama points at actress Sherri Shepherd as the ladies quiz him on the sofa

'Since I took office when I was sworn in ... the last 20 months have been a non-stop effort to restart the economy, to stabilise the financial system, to make sure we are creating jobs and not losing them.’

Asked why he agreed to an interview on The View in the first place, Mr Obama said: ‘I was trying to find a show that Michelle actually watched, and so I thought this is it, right here.

‘All those new shows, she's like, eh, let me get the clicker.’

Critics were swift to condemn the appearance as a publicity stunt.

Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell said he thought the president should go on ‘serious shows’ and compared ‘The View’ to the Jerry Springer show.

Deep in conversation: Whoopi Goldberg looks on as the chat gets serious between Obama and his hosts

Commentator and former host on show Rosie O’Donnell said: ‘I don't really think sitting presidents should go do fluffy daytime TV shows.

Maybe an hour on 'Oprah' or something...I don't really want to see him on The View.’

Columnist S.E. Cupp in the New York Daily News added: ‘We are still fighting two increasingly trying wars overseas, witnessing terrifying new levels of creativity from would-be terrorists, mopping up a greasy mess in the Gulf of Mexico and trying to right an economy that seems insistent on remaining off the rails. And the so-called leader of the free world thinks the best use of his time is to yuk it up with Whoopi Goldberg.’

 Tell me something, Barbara: Mr Obama leans towards veteran host Miss Walters during their chat