President Obama is back in the nation’s capital after a holiday trip with his family to his native Hawaii, set to start his final year in elected office with a State of Union speech and action on gun control.
Obama exited Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House just after noon on Sunday with his wife and daughters, according to a pool report. He didn’t answer questions shouted from reporters about how his speech is coming or if he plans to visit Cuba soon.
Obama returns to work with about a week until his final State of the Union address, which is scheduled at an unsually early date this year.
The President is expected to focus on executive action he says will stem gun violence in the coming week.
He announced in his weekly address that he would meet with Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Monday to discuss options for expanding background checks for people who purchase weapons at gun shows. Obama is expected to issue an executive order in the coming week that requires more gun sellers to obtain federal licenses that force them to run background check on everyone who buys weapons from them.
Obama will also hold a live town hall aired by CNN at 8 p.m. Thursday.
Obama’s plans have come under fire from Republican presidential candidates.
Former Hewlett Packard boss Carly Fiorina called Obama’s use of executive orders “lawless” on Sunday morning. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called him a “petulant child.” Republican front-runner Donald Trump said Obama is attacking the Second Amendment and should instead focus on violent “sickos.”
On CNN’s State of the Union, Democratic presidential candidate Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said he backs Obama’s plans, though he would prefer stronger action by Congress.
