Obama to Russia: 'We Can Do Stuff to You'

Obama delivers final press conference of his presidency
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 16, 2016 5:50 PM CST
Obama to Russia: 'We Can Do Stuff to You'
President Obama delivers the final press conference of his presidency Friday.   (White House)

President Obama held the final press conference of his presidency Friday before jetting off for his annual Hawaiian vacation. Here's what was said and what was said about it:

  • If you didn't watch live, the Washington Post has the full transcript and video from the press conference.
  • CNN reports Obama "all but named" Putin as being behind attempts to influence the election. "Not much happens in Russia without Vladimir Putin," he said, noting he told Putin to "cut it out" when they met in person in September.
  • When asked about the slaughter in Aleppo, Obama said "I always feel responsible" for incidents around the world," according to Haaretz. But ultimately he feels he's "taken the best course I can" to end the conflict in Syria and that the "blood and atrocities" there are ultimately on Syria and Russia.
  • When a woman in the audience suddenly fainted, Obama stopped the press conference and called for his personal physician to help her out, Us Weekly reports.
  • "Twitter was full of calls for Obama to sound more of an alarm about his successor, but he chose not to," Fusion notes. "Rather, Obama mostly played nice, saying his meetings with Trump have been 'cordial.'"
  • NBC News reports Obama sent out a warning to the world regarding cyberattacks against America. "Our goal continues to be to send a clear message to Russia, and others, to not do this," Obama said. "Because we can do stuff to you."
  • Citing a survey that shows 37% of Republican voters approve of Putin, a former KGB head, Obama said, "Ronald Reagan would roll over in his grave," according to Mediaite.
  • Finally, Matt Laslo at the Guardian says Obama blamed the media for Trump's success but "undermined" his own cause by doing so. "Obama, rank and file Democrats, and Republican leaders who actually care about their party’s futures need to reinstate trust in facts and the news organizations that still believe in them."
(More Barack Obama stories.)

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