Skip to main content

Obama to Trump: You can’t manage White House like family business

Obama-Trump

US President Barack Obama said in an interview broadcast Sunday that he has tried to impress upon president-elect Donald Trump that running the White House is different from any other job.

The main thing he’s tried to convey is that there’s a difference between governing and campaigning, Obama said in the interview with ABC News.

“What he has to appreciate is as soon as you walk into this office after you’ve been sworn in, you’re now in charge of the largest organisation on Earth,” Obama said.

He has told Trump the operation can’t be managed like a family business, and he will have to have a strong team around him.

“You have to have respect for institutions and the process to make good decisions because you are inherently reliant on other folks,” Obama adds.

The interview comes as Obama prepares for a farewell address scheduled to take place Tuesday evening and as he prepares to leave office on January 20, the same day Trump will be inaugurated.

Obama added that he has also talked to Trump about having confidence in U.S. intelligence agencies and knowing that “there are going to be times where the only way you can make a good decision is if you have confidence that the process is working.”

Top US intelligence officials on Friday briefed Trump about their investigation into Russian cyber activities during the presidential election.

They concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin “ordered” a campaign to influence the election to undermine faith in the democratic process and to hurt Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton.

Trump’s reaction was to vow to pursue good relations with Russia, saying on Saturday on Twitter that having a good relationship with Russia “is a good thing, not a bad thing.”

He also issued a statement saying he had “tremendous respect” for the work of the intelligence agencies, contradicting earlier messages that were critical of their intelligence assessments on weapons of mass destruction prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which proved to be false.

Trump spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway defended Trump’s reaction and his statement, noting that he highlights that China and other countries also have mounted cyber attacks against the U.S. government and U.S. businesses.

She said the Democratic National Committee left itself vulnerable to the hack prior to the election and said the material revealed made no difference because the majority of U.S. voters already had an unfavourable opinion of Clinton before it came out.

“All of this amounts to a very simple fact … the alleged aspirations to interfere with our democracy failed,” Conway said on CNN.

In the interview with ABC, Obama also said he had given Trump advice about using Twitter.

He said from the day Trump becomes president “there are world capitals and financial markets and people all around the world who take really seriously what he says.”

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...

Fire: UniJos Senate convenes emergency meeting on Monday

Fire at the University of Jos Library University of Jos is to convene an emergency senate meeting on Monday to review the level of damage done to the institution by the Saturday night inferno. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sebastian Maimako, disclosed this on Sunday after inspecting areas affected by the incident. The fire, which lasted for more than six hours, destroyed the Library Complex that equally houses the faculties of management and social sciences. The fire also destroyed examination scripts, books and very crucial materials. Consequently, the vice-chancellor said “the Senate will meet tomorrow (Monday) to take a decision about the unmarked examination scripts that were burnt.” On the cause of the inferno, Maimako said investigation had commenced, adding that “nothing has been confirmed yet. We are still investigating.” The vice chancellor said the school was already working with federal authorities toward establishing a main fire station since the mini fire station in t...

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...