Obama seeks to reassure at first press conference after meeting president-elect Donald Trump.
ADVERTISEMENTU.S President Barack Obama promised the country’s NATO allies “continuity” as he prepared to turn over control of the White House to his Republican successor, president-elect Donald Trump.
“There’s enormous continuity beneath the day-to-day news that makes us that indispensable nation when it comes to maintaining order and prosperity around the world. That will continue,” said Barack Obama in his first news conference since Trump won the 2016 U.S. presidential election last week.
“In my conversation with the president-elect he expressed a great interest in maintaining our core strategic relationships and so one of the messages I will be able to deliver is his commitment to NATO and the Transatlantic alliance. I think that’s one of the most important functions I can serve at this stage during this trip is to let them know during this trip that there is no weakening resolve when it comes to maintaining a strong and robust NATO relationship and a recognition that those alliances aren’t just good for Europe, they’re good for the United States and they are vital for the world,” said Obama.
Obama only met trump for the first time last Thursday, and at the press conference when asked if he has “concerns” about the Trump presidency he replied, “Yes, absolutely”.
However he adopted a generally moderate tone and expressed confidence Trump would not run the country with the billionaire’s trademark brashness. He said he warned him that governing was not the same as campaigning, and that some of his personality traits would not serve him well if they were not controlled.
“I did say to him as I’ve said publicly that because of the nature of the campaigns and the bitterness and ferocity of the campaigns that it’s really important to try to send some signals of unity and to reach out to minority groups or women or others that were concerned,” Obama added.
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