Kids, Michelle in Obama’s mind as last trip ends

Washington, Nov. 21: President Barack Obama returned to the White House early Monday, ending the last foreign tour of his tenure as he prepares to hand power over to Donald Trump, amid unease about the Republican’s volatility and isolationist rhetoric.

Following his final foreign press conference in Peru’s capital Lima, Mr Obama headed to the airport, where he spoke with a few people at the foot of Air Force One.

He then jogged up the steps of the presidential plane, turned around to give two brief waves and ducked inside one last time.

After landing at Andrews Air Force Base just outside Washington, Mr Obama took the Marine One helicopter to the White House.

Mr Obama was clear about his first priority for post-presidential life: “Take (First Lady) Michelle on vacation.” The President said he wants to “get some rest, spend time with my girls and do some writing, do some thinking.”

Mr Obama’s trip was dominated by the deep uncertainty Mr Trump has unleashed about the world order with his attacks on free trade and the US role as global “policeman.”

Mr Obama said an increasingly borderless world has brought “historic gains in prosperity, education and health,” but acknowledged globalization had both winners and losers. It was an awkward trip for Mr Obama, who campaigned against Mr Trump as his successor.

He asked the world to treat the brash billionaire as he himself vowed to do: “Wait and see.”