U.S. President Barack Obama speaks on economic themes. (Photo by Aude Guerrucci-Pool/Getty Images)

President Obama gave D.C.’s proposed minimum wage hike the thumbs up yesterday during his speech on economic mobility.

At a Center for American Progress-hosted event at THEARC, an arts recreation center east of the Anacostia River, Obama said “A broad majority of Americans agree we should raise the minimum wage.”

“That’s why, last month, voters in New Jersey decided to become the 20th state to raise theirs even higher,” he continued. “That’s why, yesterday, the D.C. Council voted to do it, too. I agree with those voters. I agree with those voters, and I’m going to keep pushing until we get a higher minimum wage for hard-working Americans across the entire country. It will be good for our economy. It will be good for our families.”

According to a White House Pool report, Mayor Vince Gray (who was in attendance) was quite pleased: “Mayor Gray seemed quite happy with this presidential endorsement, clapping enthusiastically.”

While Gray does support raising the minimum wage in D.C. to $10 immediately with no future automatic hikes, he does not support the Council’s proposal to raise it to $11.50 by 2016. The Council voted unanimously this week to pass that bill on first reading, with a final vote scheduled for later this month.