Timeline of The Presidency of Barack Obama (2009) - May

May

• May 4 – Obama marks Cinco de Mayo a day early in a small speech to Latino Americans. Obama was joined by First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Second Lady Jill Biden, United States Ambassador to Mexico Arturo Sarukhan and his wife Veronica Valenca-Sarukhan.

• May 5 – Obama meets with Israeli President Shimon Peres in the Oval Office of the White House to discuss the foreign affairs of Israel, the relationship between Palestinians and Israelis, and the prospects of a two-state solution.

• May 6 – President Obama holds a summit with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari at the White House.

• May 9 – Obama speaks at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, along with special guest comedian Wanda Sykes.

• May 13 – At Arizona State University Obama gives his first commencement address as president, but does not receive an honorary degree from the University.

• May 15 – The World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies are honored at the White House by President Obama.

• May 16 – Jon Huntsman, Jr., the Republican Governor of Utah, is named United States Ambassador to China by President Obama, to replace Clark T. Randt, Jr. of Connecticut.

• May 17 – Amidst controversy over his visit, in regards to his stance on issues such as abortion and his recent executive order that lifts the ban on stem cell research, Obama delivers the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame.

• May 18 – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Obama and Sec. of State Clinton in Washington.

• May 19 – President Obama announces plans to create new automobile fuel efficiency standards requiring cars, as well as light trucks to have an average of at least 35.5 miles per gallon, by 2016, in an attempt to curve emissions and reduce the United States' contributions to global warming.

• May 20 – The Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 and the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act are signed into law by President Obama to help alleviate burdens caused by the economic financial crisis in the United States.

• May 22 – Obama gives the commencement address at United States Naval Academy. He also signs the Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act and the Credit CARD Act into law, to reform legislation and aim "...to establish fair and transparent practices relating to the extension of credit under an open end consumer credit plan, and for other purposes."

• May 23 – Major General Charles Bolden is nominated by Obama to be the next NASA administrator, marking the first African American to be nominated to the position. Lori Garver is nominated to be the deputy administrator.

• May 25 – President Obama continues the long standing tradition of the U.S. President sending a wreath to the Confederate Monument at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day and garners praise from Sons of Confederate Veterans Commander Chuck McMichael.

• May 26 – Obama nominates federal judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace retiring Supreme Court justice David Souter. In Sotomayor's speech soon after the announcement, she accepted President Obama's nomination, and prominently noted her mother as one of her greatest influences. If confirmed, she will become the first Hispanic and just the third woman appointed to the court.

• May 30 – Plans for a CyberSpace Czar to help prevent web crimes such as identity theft and other breaches of computer security networks are announced by the President.

• May 31 – Obama denounces and condemns the killing of medical director and abortion provider George Tiller, saying he was "shocked and outraged" by the assassination and death of Tiller.