He needs time, according to Obama…
In his first news conference since the stunning victory of Donald Trump last week, President Barack Obama has urged the people of America to give the President-elect a chance.
He wants people to give Donald Trump time to adjust to all the responsibilities that come with the presidency.
While he did admit he does have concerns about President-elect Trump, he called the billionaire business man pragmatic, and indicated his belief that Trump wants to succeed.
“I don’t think he is ideological, I think ultimately he is pragmatic in that way and that can serve him well as long as he has got good people around him and he has a good sense of direction,” Obama said.
Obama welcomed Trump to the White House last week where they held a 90 minute meeting, which the pair described as a success.
Obama refused to openly criticise Trump during the conference as he commented on the policies and experience that Trump has when stepping into office.
“I think he is coming to this office with fewer set hard and fast policy prescriptions than a lot of other presidents might be arriving with. Do I have concerns? Absolutely, of course I’ve got concerns. He and I differ on a whole bunch of issues,” Obama added.
He was repeatedly pressed on Trump’s temperament throughout the news conference, a subject which Obama was very critical of during the presidential campaign.
“There are going to be certain elements of his temperament that will not serve him well unless he recognises them and corrects them,” Obama said, pointing out the impact that a comment from a US president that is not accurate can have much bigger repercussions than a Republican candidate who makes an incorrect statement.
“I think he recognises that this is different,” he said.
We weren’t really expecting any slap downs from Obama in this news conference, but imagine he pulled one like this out of the fire…
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
