Obama arrives in Europe with conciliatory message on Trump

11-16-2016 • CNN

Now, as he embarks upon his final scheduled overseas trip as President, Obama faces an altogether different scenario: Trump is his successor, and instead of a cheering farewell tour, he's embarking upon a reassurance mission for deeply shaken foreign allies.

At stops in Greece, Germany and Peru, Obama will be left explaining the US election results to foreign counterparts whose anxieties about Trump he's been fueling for more than a year by denouncing Trump from podiums across the globe. Obama must now convince foreign governments and populations that the future isn't as bleak as he once predicted.

Air Force One touched down at the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport in Athens just past 3:30 a.m. ET (10:30 a.m. local) on Tuesday. Obama was met with a red carpet and military pageantry before meeting with the Greek President and Prime Minister later in the day.

Speaking from the White House briefing room before he departed, an upbeat Obama insisted that he would deliver a message of confidence in the future of transatlantic ties during his talks this week.

"There is enormous continuity beneath the day-to-day news that makes us that indispensable nation when it comes to maintaining order and promoting prosperity around the world. That will continue," Obama said, describing Trump as having "expressed a great interest in maintaining our strategic relationships."

In fact, he claimed that the President-elect had voiced a change in viewpoint during their Oval Office meeting last week on a key multinational issue.