Obama to embark on final state visit, prepared to discuss Trump

(Image credit: YURI GRIPAS/AFP/Getty Images)

published 11 November 2016

Before Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20, 2017, President Obama will sit down for meetings with key U.S. allies during the final international tour of his presidency. Obama will embark Monday on a six-day trip to Greece, Peru, and Germany: In Peru, Obama will attend an Asia economic summit and meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Australian Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull in Lima; in Germany, he will dine with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and meet with European leaders, including British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President François Hollande; in Greece, his final stop, he will deliver a speech about globalization, meet with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, and stop by the Parthenon.

The Associated Press reported Obama is expected to "bolster support" for existing deals on Iran's nuclear program, climate change, and trade — all of which have been threatened by President-elect Trump over the course of his campaign. Obama's trip to Greece is the final state visit of his presidency, and the entire six-day itinerary had been planned as a "goodbye tour," AP noted, but Obama adviser Ben Rhodes said the president is now anticipating questions about how Trump's election will impact U.S. relations.