While speaking to reporters on Monday, President Obama said he believes president-elect Donald Trump is “pragmatic” and not “ideological.”
During the press conference, Obama was asked, “Given some of the harsh words you’ve had about Mr. Trump, calling him temperamentally unfit to be commander-in-chief, did anything surprise you about president-elect Trump when you met with him in your office? And also I want to know does anything concern you about a Trump presidency?”
“Well, we had a very cordial conversation and that didn't surprise me to some degree because I think that he is obviously a gregarious person. He is somebody who, I think, likes to mix it up and to have a vigorous debate,” Obama said.
“And what’s clear is that he was able to tap into, yes, the anxiety but also the enthusiasm, of his voters in a way that that was impressive. And I said so to him because I think that to the extent that there were a lot of folks who missed the Trump phenomenon, I think that connection that he was able to make with his supporters, that was impervious to events that might have sunk another candidate, that’s powerful stuff.”
“I also think that he is coming to this office with fewer set hard and fast policy prescriptions than a lot of other presidents might be arriving with. I don’t think he is ideological. I think, ultimately, he is pragmatic in that way. And that can serve him well as long as he’s got good people around him and he has a clear sense of direction,” Obama continued.
“Do I have concerns? Absolutely. Of course I have concerns. He and I differ on a whole bunch of issues,” Obama added.