Last night, Barack Obama appeared on 60 Minutes for his last interview as sitting president. Donald Trump takes over the office in four days time. Throughout Trump's campaign as well as his surprise victory, Obama has been restrained on directly condemning the controversial Make America Great Again movement. He has also remained mostly quiet on the sensational elements of Trump's rise to power that have hogged up much of the media coverage. In speaking to 60 Minute's Steve Kroft, Obama warned the country, "don't underestimate the guy, 'cause he's gonna be the 45th President of the United States."
Obama has also been discreet when it comes to the private meetings he has had with Trump as they prepare for the imminent transition. He did not shed too much light on these conversations during his 60 Minutes interview, though he did share one crucial piece of advice he has given to Trump:
"The 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."
The above comment came after Obama admitted that Trump had run an "unusual" and "improvisational" campaign. When asked if one can run the country in such an improvisational manner, Obama responded, "I don't think so." He feels that that the institutions and customs that define American democracy need to be followed by anyone who's in power, regardless of the political movement he might represent.
Obama also touched on his opinion that his administration is the first in "modern history that hasn't had a major scandal in the White House." Looking back on Trump's campaign, many feel that he won't follow such a scrupulous example. Obama also noted that it's important for the president to have "thick skin," which does not seem to belong to the guy who fires back on Twitter each time he's insulted by a celebrity, be it Meryl Streep or Alec Baldwin.
