Many people have been wanting for Eddie Murphy to return to comedy for years. However, it took one very important individual to leave an impression and sway the decision, former President Barack Obama.

In a recent interview with the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Murphy said Barack helped him spark his interest to get back onstage. “Obama, yeah, when I got this Mark Twain Prize and I saw him in the White House, the first thing he asked me was, ‘When are you going to do standup again?’” Murphy said, imitating the ex-commander-in-chief. “And I said, ‘Maybe it’s time to do standup again.’”

Murphy also said that he’d be hosting SNL’s Christmas episode this season.

Check out what Eddie Murphy said below: