As he prepares to hand over the baton to Donald Trump, outgoing President Barack Obama has sought to reassure a polarised nation that America is “going to be okay” in the wake of this democratic transfer of power.
“At my core, I think we’re going to be okay. We just have to fight for it. We have to work for it, and not take it for granted,” Obama said at his final White House news conference, marking the end of his eight years at the helm.
With members and supporters of his Democratic Party still unreconciled to Trump’s stunning victory, Obama said: “What I’m saying really is what I think. I believe in this country. I believe in the American people.”
He, however, declined to comment on the proposed boycott of Trump’s inauguration by more than 60 Democratic lawmakers, remarking: “All I know is I’m going to be there. So is Michelle.” Obama used the occasion to once again caution Trump on US ties with Russia and any unilateral move he may be contemplating in the West Asia.
Even while conceding that Trump, having won the presidential race, was entitled to go forward with his vision and values, Obama voiced his opposition to any lifting of the US sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine in 2014.
Making the comment against the backdrop of reports that Trump may lift the sanctions if he can reach a deal with Russia over reduction of nuclear stockpile, Obama said: “It is important for the United States to stand up for the basic principle that big countries don’t go around and invade and bully small countries.”
In the West Asia, Obama sought to caution the incoming Trump administration that any big policy shift would come with its own consequences, explicitly commenting that moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem could have “explosive” results.
In a clear reference to Trump’s campaign talk that he would shift the embassy to Jerusalem, Obama said: “When sudden unilateral moves are made that speak to some of the core issues and sensitivities of either side, that can be explosive.”
Stressing that the possibility of a two-state solution must be preserved, he commented: “I don’t see how this issue gets resolved in a way that maintains Israel as both Jewish and a democracy because if you do not have two states.”
Asked about the discussions he has had with the President-elect on different issues, Obama said these have been cordial and have been fairly lengthy and substantive. Without going into details, he said: “I have offered my best advice, counsel about certain issues both foreign and domestic.”
When asked if the United States would have another black president, he commented: “I think we’re going to see people of merit rise up from every race, faith, corner of this country…We’re going to have a woman president, a latino president, a Jewish president, a Hindu president.”
He voiced concern at the persisting gaps in America and made a pointed mention about rights issues. “I worry about inequality because I think that if we’re not investing in making sure everybody plays a role in this economy, the economy will not grow as fast, I also think it will lead to further and further separation between as Americans,” he said.
In a clear dig at Trump’s state of relationship with the mainstream media, which has been harshly critical of him before and after the election, Obama remarked: “You (media outlets) are not supposed to be sycophants, you’re supposed to be skeptical.”
“My hope is that you will continue with the same tenacity that you showed us, to do the hard work of getting to the bottom of stories and getting them right and to push those of us in power to be the best version of ourselves and to push this country to be the best version of itself,” he said