President Obama says he doesn’t plan to be active in day-to-day politics once he leaves office, but he won’t stay silent if he sees attacks on “core values.”
“There’s a difference between the normal functioning of politics and certain issues or certain moments where I think our core values may be at stake,” Obama said during a Wednesday press conference, sending a message to President-elect Trump.
“If I saw systematic discrimination being ratified in some fashion,” he said. “I’d put in that category explicit or functional obstacles to people being able to vote to exercise their franchise. I’d put in that category institutional efforts to silence dissent or the press and for me at least I would put in that category at least efforts to round up kids who have grown up and for all practical purposes are American kids and send them some where else.”
Obama plans to take a long vacation and spend time with his family after he leaves office, possibly writing a book and catching up on sleep. He made clear to reporters at his last press conference that he doesn’t plan to run for office “any time soon,” but will continue to be an engaged citizen.
The statement came after Obama opened the press conference with a long soliloquy thanking the press for doing their jobs and extolling freedom of the press. Many observers saw that as a shot at Trump, who shouted down a reporter at his press conference last week.
