I Will Criticise Trump’s Presidency – Barack Obama

Outgoing president Barack Obama has said he may break tradition and criticise Donald Trump if he threatens core American values.

Obama disclosed this at a news conference at the APEC summit in Lima, Peru. He said he intended to assist Mr Trump and give him time to outline his vision.

Former presidents by convention avoid commenting on their successors. But Obama said, as a private citizen, he might speak out on certain issues.

“I want to be respectful of the office and give the president-elect an opportunity to put forward his platform and his arguments without somebody popping off.”

“However, if an issue goes to core questions about our values and our ideals, if I think that it’s necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, then I’ll examine it when it comes.”

I Care About America -Obama

Meanwhile, President Obama also described himself as an “American citizen who cares deeply about our country”.

Obama further reiterated that he would extend to Trump’s incoming administration the same professional courtesy shown to his team by his predecessor George W Bush.

Bush has refrained since leaving office from commenting on Obama’s presidency. According to him, “I don’t think it does any good,” he told CNN in 2013, after Obama was elected for a second time.

“It’s a hard job. He’s got plenty on his agenda. It’s difficult. A former president doesn’t need to make it any harder. Other presidents have taken different decisions; that’s mine.”