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Obama: Recognized Anger, Fear within American Population; Obama and Greek PM Hold Joint News Conference. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired November 15, 2016 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[10:00:16]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: -- people seem to think I did a pretty good job. And so there is this mismatch, I think between frustration and anger, perhaps the view of the American people was that just need to shake things up. Time will now tell whether the prescriptions that being offered, whether BREXIT or with respect to the U.S. Election, ends up actually satisfying those people who have been fearful or angry or concerned. And I think that's going to be an interesting test. Because I think I can make a pretty strong argument with the policies we put forward were the right ones. That we've grown faster than just about any advanced economy. The country is indisputably better off and those folks who voted for the president-elect are better off than they were when I came in the office for the most part. But we'll see whether those facts affect people's calculations in the next election.

ALEXIS TSIPRAS, GREEK PRIME MINISTER (through translator): You asked if I believed that Angela Merkel could be convinced to make on but which are the necessary steps for the recovery of the Greek economy. Well, my answer is I'm very optimistic. And this for two reasons, number one, Angela Merkel is a German politician and Germans sometimes insist, sometimes they are disagreeable, but they insist that the agreement must be honored. And what is expected to happen with Greece is that which was, agreed last July, August, in the summer of 2015. That was as soon as Greece shows that it has decided to proceed with courageous and difficult reforms that when the first and most difficult review is completed, then decisions will be taken, measures will be implemented to review, to provide debt relief to Greece. So that Greece can go out into the many markets and for growth to return at a very high event in the Greek economy.

So the first reason for my optimism is that just last -- the German Finance Minister used to say, "pacta sunt servanda." (ph) This is a Latin expression which we sometimes use, although we have learned not Latin but an ancient Greek in our schools. The second reason, for which I'm optimistic, is that I have met Angela Merkel in person. So has Barack Obama. We were very close together during the period of the huge refugee crisis. Our cooperation is very good. And therefore, I'm of the opinion that she is a responsible politician, a politician who has sense of responsibility for Europe and not only for Germany or for the political party. And this was the manner in which she dealt with the refugee crisis with a deep sense of responsibility on the future of Europe and on stability. And for these two important reasons, I do expect that she will be convinced that these two necessary steps must be made, two steps that will not be a burden to German taxpayers. So that Greece can become not a member or part of the problem but a part of the solution for security, for growth and for solving the refugee issue for which Greece pays an important role. And that is why I'm optimistic and I expect my optimism to be realized.

Mr. Ignatiu (ph) from "Ethnos", question number three.

IGNATIU, WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT "ETHNOS" (ph): My name is Ignatius (ph) I'm the correspondent in Washington for "Ethnos" newspaper and mega TV. You said many times, Mr. President that the way Europeans handle the economy, the economic crisis, had the opposite effect. And also you talked many times against the austerity

[10:05:16] and of course you are right. Why in your opinion you did not succeed to convince the Europeans to follow your way? What are you going to do the last two months to help Greece and the Greek people? Also, I have a short question about Cyprus. Both of you, you talk about Cyprus and the issue for me, because I was born in Cyprus, how can you convince the President of Turkey to end the occupation of Cyprus, Mr. President?

OBAMA: Let me take the second question first. This is ultimately a negotiation between Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. And the good news is that you have two leaders who seem genuinely committed to finding compromises and an approach that would serve both their people's law. If in fact, you can see a meeting of the minds between them, then the issue will be, can we make sure that all of us, the international community, Turkey, Greece, the United States, support that agreement in a way that can be ratified by both sides? And we've invested a lot of time. Vice President Biden's been actively involved in this. We are encouraged by the progress that's been made. I think there's a window in the next few weeks, months, where this issue was actually resolved. And I think if we can find an equitable solution, it won't provide 100 percent of what either side wants. There may be some mechanisms for a transition from status quo to the future that both sides envision but I think it's achievable and we're going to do everything we can to support the process.

With respect to the economy in Europe, again, I think it's important to recognize that in some ways my job was simpler because at least in the first two years, I had majorities of my party controlling Congress. And I'm just one country. So Congress is hard to deal with. Dealing with you know, multiple parliaments and commissions and unions and this and that and the other. That's very complicated. And so the need I think to operate by consensus the fact that not all European countries were similarly situated even though their economy shared a currency that made their task more difficult. And so I want to make sure that I'm clear that I don't envy the hard job that each European leader had in circumstances that oftentimes they'd inherited.

What I try to do is just offer our best thinking, whether it's in resolving problems in banks quickly. Because the quicker you resolve the problems with banks and their transparency in that process, the faster they recapitalize and are able to make investments. When the economy's shrinking, providing jobs, spending on things like infrastructure can actually increase revenue and drive down debt. And then there's going to be a time at which point debt has to be taken care of. I mean, for example in the United States, our deficits went up in those first two years because we're engaging in a lot of emergency spending. Our deficits have now been reduced by two thirds. Primarily because we started growing again and we started taking in tax more tax revenue. So there are some lessons I think that are applicable for all countries. And what we just tried to do

[10:10:16] is offer the best advice that we can. Understanding that when you're dealing with multiple nations but a single currency and then a European Union where some people are in the currency, and some people are not in the currency and a European parliament and European council. That's a lot of meetings.

TSIPRAS (through translator): I will fully agree with what President Obama has just said in answering the question about Cyprus. It is not a bilateral issue. It is not a problem between Greece and Turkey. It's an international problem which has been going on for 42 years. As long as I'm alive, I think it is a problem of illegal invasion and occupation of the northern part of Cyprus. We make our best, we do our best to encourage both sides to help them reach fair and equitable and sustainable solution. In my first visit to Cyprus as a Prime Minister, I tried and I did meet over and above the leaders of the Republic of Cyprus, a number of representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community. And I think that that was the first time that a Greek Prime Minister was meeting with them. We are interested in making sure that the people of Cyprus will be able to live in a reunited Cyprus where they are free, where there's democracy, freedom and Cyprus is a member of the European Union.

So I would like to make it clear that as regards Greece, we are in favor of solution. We stand at the side -- by the side of their President Anastasiades who is making the effort and we are only ready to discuss with Turkey the part which is relevant to us. That is the guarantee because since 1959 -- since 1960, this obsolete issue of guarantees also concerned Greece. But Greece is not the country which has occupied and illegally invaded and legally occupied Cyprus. So I believe that a fair and sustainable solution means the solution without the permanent presence of Turkish troops on the island and at the same time, I think that the best guarantee for the Cypriot people to feel safe is the potential of fair and sustainable solution. And if this happens, things will change not only for Cyprus but for the wider region in general for Greek/Turkish relations. This is how we are proceeding. I believe that yes, President Erdogan plays an important role, but it is not my responsibility to convince him, Mr. Ignatiu (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The final question will come from Chris Jansing with "NBC News."

CHRIS JANSING, "NBC NEWS": Thank you. Mr. President, ever since the election there -- have been protests on streets of the United States. And earlier this year, Matt Lauer asked you if you believed you helped create the environment for Donald Trump to run and you answered, talk to me if he wins about how responsible I feel about it. I wonder. Do you feel any responsibility for the election of Donald Trump, and in the broader context, when you see his election, when you look at politicians, like Theresa May, Marine Le Pen, do you believe that it is either a movement away from or an outright rejection of your worldview?

And Mr. Prime Minister, you've also talked about your concerns about the rise of the extreme right in general. And about Donald Trump in particular, you said, I hope we will not face this evil. Do you believe Donald Trump or his ideas are still evil? And if so, do you believe your comments and the comments of other European leaders will make it more difficult for you to work with him? Thank you.

OBAMA: Well, first of all, I think it's fair to say I was surprised by the election results. And I've said so. I still don't feel responsible for what the president-elect says or does. But I do feel the responsibility as President of the United States to make sure that I facilitate a good transition. And I

[10:15:16] present to him as well as the American people my best thinking, my best ideas, about how you move the country forward. To speak out with respect to areas where I think the Republican Party is wrong, but to pledge to work with them on those things that I think will advance the causes of security, and prosperity and justice and inclusiveness in America. I think it's important not to start drawing parallels, for example, between Theresa May, a fairly traditional conservative politician who's now Prime Minister and Le Pen in France. Those aren't the same.

And the situation in each country is different. I do think, as I said before, that history doesn't move in a straight line. It zigs and zags. And sometimes goes forward, sometimes moves back, sideways. I think at times of significant stress, people are going to be looking for something and they don't always know exactly what it is that they're looking for and they may opt for change, even if they're not entirely confident what that change will bring.

As you know, throughout my presidency, I'm sure as a matter of convenience I generally haven't paid a lot of attention to the polls. But since your questions directly related to the notion of a rejection of my worldview, last I checked, a pretty healthy majority of the American people agree with my worldview on a whole bunch of things. And I know that begs the question, well, how is it that somebody who appears to have a very different worldview just got elected. As I said, sometimes people just feel as if we want to try something to see if we can shake things up and that I suspect was a significant phenomenon.

I do believe, separate and apart from any particular election or movement that we are going to have to guard against, a rise in a crude sort of nationalism or ethnic identity or tribalism, that is built around an us and a them. And I will never apologize for saying that the future of humanity and the future of the world is going to be defined by what we have in common as opposed to those things that separate us and ultimately lead us in the conflict.

Take Europe. We know what happens when Europeans start dividing themselves up and emphasizing their differences. And seeing a competition between various countries in a zero sum way. The 20th century was a bloodbath. And for all the frustrations and failures of the project to unify Europe, the last five decades have been furious of unprecedented, peace, growth and prosperity in Europe. In the United States, we know what happens when we start dividing ourselves along lines of race or religion or ethnicity. It's dangerous. Not just for the minority groups that are

[10:20:16] subjected to that kind discrimination or in some cases in the past violence, but because we even don't realize our potential as a country when we're preventing blacks or Latinos or Asians or gays or women from fully participating in the project of building American life. So my vision's right, on that issue. And it may not always win the day in the short term in any particular political circumstance. But I'm confident it will win the day over the long term. Because societies in which we are able to unify ourselves around values and ideals and character and how we treat each other and cooperation and innovation ultimately are going to be more successful than societies that don't. That's my strong belief. And I think I've got pretty good evidence to prove it.

TSIPRAS (through translator): To be honest, I know very little of Donald Trump. I got to know his aggressive manner and the manner in which he defended some unconventional points of view during the election period. Some have told me that I should have read his book before going to bargain in Brussels, the art of the deal. I didn't, but I don't think that was decisive to the result. Still, let me point out that it was one thing what we knew about Donald Trump when he was seeking to become the candidate for the Republican Party. Another thing, during the election period, and now that he is the president-elect, and it's quite enough when he will be the president of the country that is a major player, a global player.

So that is why contrary to some of my colleagues in Europe, I did not rush to repeat some of the criticism that many of us have made during the election period about Donald Trump. I also believe that if someone would want to radically change the foreign policy of the country, such as the United States which is very difficult. And although some of us in here for may fear that this may happen. What we should be doing is build bridges not walls. We are proceeding on the basis of common values. We have more to gain from partnership, from promoting our partnership and dealing with the big global challenges. I therefore believe that in the near future, not much is going to change in the relations between EU, Greece and the United States of America. These are relation that was forged and their very difficult conditions rely on the common values of our people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, lot of interesting stuff out of that news conference, right, in Greece. President Obama leaves the stage with the Greek Prime Minister. So let's talk about what just happened. I'm joined by CNN senior political analyst and senior editor for "The Atlantic," Ron Brownstein, CNN chief political correspondent Dana Bash, CNN's chief business correspondent Christine Romans, and Jim Sciutto is our chief national security correspondent. Also CNN's Michelle Kosinski, she's traveling with the president. Welcome to all of you.

Michelle, I'm going to start with you. Because, as we zoom in on a very tight shot of your face. But Michelle Kosinski, I do want to start with you, because that last question by Chris Jansing from "NBC" was a tough one for the president.

[10:25:16] MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, there was a lot in this press conference, even given that it was only two questions from the U.S. side. But this was a chance for reporters to ask him those kinds of questions where it wasn't so much a platform for him to try to be optimistic or put the best face on things. He really had to get at the heart of the matter, right? So he talked about the troubling rhetoric. That was the word he used to describe what had gone on during this campaign on the Republican side. He talked about what gives rise to these populous movements, that people are insecure after globalization and that there's inequality out there.

So the president, you know, in the question about does he take responsibility for it, that's something he really wouldn't answer. He said that his responsibility is to help see that America moves forward. That he's not responsible for what the president-elect does or says. As to whether he is somewhat responsible for what gave rise to the kind of election that we saw, that's what he wouldn't answer.

And it was interesting that, you know, the Greek side was asked, do you feel that Donald Trump is evil as you described what he stands for earlier. He also wouldn't answer that, saying only that he doesn't know Donald Trump but ultimately the relationships between the U.S. and Greece, the U.S. and the EU, are going to remain strong.

But the president can really get into the nitty-gritty of what caused this. President Obama was also surprised by the outcome of the election. But he seemed to come to terms with the elements out there that led to it. I mean, he espoused his view, once again, that he feels the way to deal with this kind of inequality and anger, which he said he knew was out there. Was due to kinds of policies, the kinds of things that he wanted to like raise wages, obviously the Republican side doesn't feel that way and he sort of left it with, well, we're going to see how this ends up, but I feel that my policies are the best way forward.

COSTELLO: You talked about him, how he addressed a question about whether he felt -- whether he realized that much of the country was angry and I just want to remind our viewers what the president has said in Greece. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: Presidential elections always turn on personalities. They turn on how campaigns are run. They turn on natural desires for change. If you have an incumbent who's been there for eight years, there's a temptation to think, well maybe, did I recognize that there was anger, frustration in the American population? Of course I did. First of all, we've had to fight back from the worst recession since the great depression. And I can guarantee if your housing values have crashed and you've lost your pension and you've lost your job, you're going to be pretty angry. And so we fought back and recovered. But that left, I think fear and anxiety in a lot people since that the economy was not certain as it could be and maybe the game was rigged on Wall Street, or my special interests in Washington or what have you and that's been there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: OK, so Dana, he said he recognized the anger out there that was still lingering from the great recession that we had. But he also said that his world vision is the correct one. And he points to his poll numbers like as he's exiting the office of the presidency as proof of that. I have them right here. Like how are things going in the country today. 54 percent of Americans say well. How is President Obama handling his job? 55 percent approved.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Which is pretty rare for the end of a second term, many presidents at this recent history, taking Ronald Reagan out of that because he's similar to Barack Obama, have gone out, you know, on a pretty low note. And that has not helped with the idea of electing a third term which is what Hillary Clinton was running on. So, you know, maybe I'm reading too much into this. But it seems to me what -- the only conclusion that you can draw from what he said, my worldview is right, my poll numbers are high. Is Hillary Clinton was the wrong messenger at the wrong time, that that was what he was trying to say without saying it.

COSTELLO: I kind of got that sensed too, Christine, right?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: You know, look, in other campaign trail, the Obama economy was just slammed, again and again and again, right?