U.S. President Barack Obama, right, speaks as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump listens during a news conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016.
As U.S. President, BarackObama prepares to turn the White House over to President-elect, Donald Trump next Friday, he has said that Trump should not be underestimated.
Obama noted that Trump “ran sort of a improvisational campaign” but cautioned him against running an “improvisational presidency,” saying it will be a test to see if Trump can build an organisation and execute the vision he laid out during the campaign.
“I think everybody has to acknowledge, don’t underestimate the guy, because he’s going to be 45th president of the United States in about two weeks,” Obama said.
He also offered advice to his successor, as he prepares to take the nation’s highest office on January 20.
Excerpts of Obama’s advice to Trump were published on Friday in his recorded interview with CBS News’ Steve Kroft for “60 Minutes”.
“One thing I’ve said to him directly, and I would advise my Republican friends in Congress and supporters around the country, is just make sure that as we go forward, certain norms, certain institutional traditions, don’t get eroded, because there’s a reason they’re in place,” Obama said.
The interview would be Obama’s last network interview before he leaves office on January 20, after a two-term presidency.
In a transition period that found the President-elect often commenting on presidential matters, Obama admitted that it has been an “unusual” time.
“I suspect the President-elect would agree with that,” Obama said. “Look, he’s an unconventional candidate”.
Trump, who won the November 8, 2016 presidential election by electoral college, but lost the popular vote to Democratic Hillary Clinton by almost three million votes, will be sworn in next Friday.
The interview, “60 Minutes Presents: Barack Obama: Eight Years in the White House” will be broadcast Sunday, January 15 at 7PM ET.