Obama bids farewell
AT NOON IN WASHINGTON, THE US WILL CHANGE FOREVER WITH DONALD TRUMP COMING TO POWER
A s the clock strikes midday in Washington, Barack Obama’s eight years as President of the United States will come to an end. By the time that clock hits 12.01pm — 9.01pm in the UAE — we will enter the era of the 45th President, and four more years of Donald Trump.
Obama stepped behind the White House podium for the last time on Wednesday, fielding questions from journalists for his last press conference. His answers seemed aimed at an audience of one: the man who will replace him at noon.
Obama chided Trump’s suggestion that the US might end its sanctions on Russia over Ukraine in exchange for nuclear reductions, saying it was in America’s interest to make sure “we don’t confuse why these sanctions have been imposed with a whole set of other issues.”
And, with Trump vowing to move the US embassy in Israel to occupied Jerusalem, a move that could further inflame tensions in the Middle East, Obama warned that when “sudden unilateral moves” are made in the region, the results can be explosive.
Behind the scenes, dozens of workers will swing into action to replace one commander in chief’s creature comforts — favourite snacks, clothes, toiletries, artwork and furniture — with his successor’s.
The process unfolds mostly away from public view as Americans and the world focus on the pageantry of Inauguration Day: The presidential oath and address at the Capitol, a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue and the black-tie balls.
It’s a historic day. Melania Trump is only the second First Lady to be born outside the United States since Louisa Adams, wife of John Quincy, who was born in England — and that’s almost 200 years ago.
B arack Obama stepped behind the White House podium for the last time on Wednesday, fielding questions from the crush of journalists crammed in for the occasion and offering assurances to Americans watching on television.
But at times, his answers seemed aimed at an audience of one: the man who will replace him at noon on Friday.
Obama gently chided Donald Trump’s suggestion that the US might end its sanctions on Russia over Ukraine in exchange for nuclear stockpile reductions, saying it was in America’s interest to make sure “we don’t confuse why these sanctions have been imposed with a whole set of other issues.”
And, with Trump vowing to move the US embassy in Israel to occupied Jerusalem, a move that could further inflame tensions in the Middle East, Obama warned that when “sudden unilateral moves” are made in the region, the results can be explosive.
Obama also defended his decision to cut nearly three decades off convicted leaker Chelsea Manning’s prison term, a move Trump’s team has strongly criticised. Obama said the former army intelligence analyst had served a “tough prison sentence” already.
With no elections left to win or legislative battles to fight, Obama used his parting words to deliver one set of messages to his successor, a man who is his opposite both temperamentally and politically. Obama said he expected a new president, particularly one from the opposing party, to “test old assumptions,” but he also suggested it would be important for the next administration to “understand that there are going to be consequences, and actions typically create reactions.”
The very fact that Obama was holding the afternoon news conference in the White House briefing room served as a symbolic counter to Trump.
West Wing
The President-elect’s aides have raised the prospect of moving daily news briefings out of their traditional West Wing home, sparking fears of attempts to eventually push reporters out of the White House altogether.
Obama specifically addressed that worry: “Having you in this building has made this place work better,” he declared.
“You’re not supposed to be sycophants, you’re supposed to be sceptics,” Obama said to the reporters he has often criticised for hyping scandals and hopscotching from story to story too quickly.
“You’re not supposed to be complimentary, but you’re supposed to cast a critical eye on folks who hold enormous power and make sure that we are accountable to the people who sent us here.”
Even the reporters the president called on seemed intended to send a pointed message to his successor. He kicked off the questioning with the president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, which advocates for access on behalf of journalists. Reporters from Arab, Spanish-language, African American, and gay and lesbian focused publications followed.
In a sense, Obama was taking a page out of the playbook used by Trump advisers, who often try to communicate with their cable-news watching boss on the airwaves. The president’s press conference earned him prime real estate on the networks Trump keeps on his office television throughout the day, with most cable news outlets carrying the entire hour-long event live.
For years, Trump’s only presence in Obama’s orbit was as an irritant and the chief promoter of the lie that the president was born outside the United States. When Trump challenged for the presidency, Obama worked to stop him and seemed all but certain that Americans wouldn’t back the Republican’s brash and divisive politics.
Since Trump’s unexpected victory, Obama has largely set aside that history and sought to help ease his successor’s transition into office. He’s spoken with Trump by phone numerous times, sometimes at length, he said on Wednesday.
Divulging some of his advice to the incoming president, Obama said he’s told Trump, “This is a job of such magnitude that you can’t do it by yourself.”
tutions. Those were some of the themes that dominated his farewell speech last week in Chicago.
Obama’s final news conference included a few of those downbeat notes. He took questions on many of the normal hotbutton issues that have defined the fourth quarter of his presidency: Russia, Wiki Leaks, immigration, race, Cuba and his failed efforts to broker peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
He predicted that a move by Trump to deport “dreamers” — young undocumented immigrants who have spent most of their lives in the United States — would draw him back into the political scrum.
But Obama’s final news conference was most memorable for his hopeful vision, which has endured multiple wars, many mass shootings and the unmistakable sense that the country has grown more polarised and angry on his watch.
On Trump I have offered my best advice ... I can tell you that — this is something I have told him — that this is a job of such magnitude that you can’t do it by yourself. You are enormously reliant on a team.”
On the Middle East I think the status quo is unsustainable — that it is dangerous for Israel, that it is bad for Palestinians, bad for the region and bad for America’s national security . ... Obviously it’s a volatile environment. What we’ve seen in the past is when sudden unilateral moves are made that speak to some of the core issues and sensitivities of either side, that can be explosive.”
On the media You’re not supposed to be sycophants, you’re supposed to be sceptical . ... And having you in this building has made this workplace better. It keeps us honest, makes us work harder.”
On Chelsea Manning Chelsea Manning has served a tough prison sentence. ... I know I feel very comfortable that justice has been served and that a message has still been sent.”
On speaking out There’s a difference between that normal functioning of politics and certain issues or certain moments where I think our core values may be at stake ... that would merit me speaking out.”
When the president was asked if he was worried about whether progress on LGBT rights would endure under Trump, Obama insisted that the biggest changes during his tenure were spurred by activists outside of government and, in many cases, far from Washington.
‘This is who I am’
“The primary heroes ... are all the individuals and activists and sons and daughters and couples who courageously said, ‘This is who I am, and I am proud of it,’ “Obama said. “That opened people’s minds and opened their hearts and eventually the laws caught up.”
Later he was asked how he had explained the “meaning” of Trump’s victory to his daughters. The president took the opportunity to brag about this children.
“Man, my daughters are something,” he boasted.
Then he bragged about the
On Russia I think it’s in America’s interest and the world’s interest that we have a constructive relationship with Russia. That’s been my approach throughout my presidency. I think it’s fair to say that after President Putin came back into the presidency that an escalating anti-American rhetoric and an approach to global affairs that seem to be premised on the idea that whatever America’s trying to do must be bad for Russians ... that returned to an adversarial spirit.”
On race We’ve got more work to do on race... Things are getting better. And I have more confidence on racial issues in the next generation than I do in our generation.
On his future I want to do some writing, I want to be quiet a little bit and not hear myself talk so darn much. I want to spend precious time with my girls.” On the future of America Democracy is messy and doesn’t always work the way you want, doesn’t guarantee certain outcomes.”
country he has led. In his very first news conference as president in 2009, Obama described himself as “the eternal optimist.”
“I think over time, people respond to civility and rational argument,” he said. “I think that’s what ... people around America are looking for.”
In his final news conference, Obama chose to ignore the ample body of evidence that he may have been mistaken.
Instead, he returned to his core progressive belief that determined activism would inexorably produce a less divided and more just country.
“If we work hard and if we are true to those things in us that feel true and feel right, the world gets a little better each time,” he said.
That was Obama’s final message.
“That’s what this presidency has tried to be about,” he said.