'I often say that in politics or at least what I used to say about the presidency is that I saw myself as a relay runner,' he said. 'I would take the baton and I would run my leg of the race. and then I'd pass along the baton to someone else.'
'And again that's part of the reason why I'm so interested in talking to young people today, because each generation tries to make progress knowing that what we do is not going to be perfect is not going to solve every problem,' Obama added.
Since leaving office in January, Obama has spoken at several public events, which usually center around political discussions with young people.
Merkel, who hosted Obama at the same spot four years ago, was due to travel to Brussels later Thursday for a meeting with leaders of fellow NATO member states, including President Trump.
Trump will also lunch with France's new leader, President Emmanuel Macron, who won over far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.
Thursday's appearance with Obama was criticized by some German opposition politicians as a publicity stunt ahead of September's general election, in which Merkel aims to win a fourth term.
How Obama and Trump ended up in Europe on the same day was a calendar 'quirk,' as CNN put it, with Obama being invited to speak by the German evangelical protestant church a year ago, before Trump was even elected.
'When we agreed to do this, they had not yet set the Trump schedule, we did not in fact know he would be there when we made this decision,' an Obama foundation official told CNN.
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'And again that's part of the reason why I'm so interested in talking to young people today, because each generation tries to make progress knowing that what we do is not going to be perfect is not going to solve every problem,' Obama added.
Since leaving office in January, Obama has spoken at several public events, which usually center around political discussions with young people.
Merkel, who hosted Obama at the same spot four years ago, was due to travel to Brussels later Thursday for a meeting with leaders of fellow NATO member states, including President Trump.
Trump will also lunch with France's new leader, President Emmanuel Macron, who won over far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.
Thursday's appearance with Obama was criticized by some German opposition politicians as a publicity stunt ahead of September's general election, in which Merkel aims to win a fourth term.
How Obama and Trump ended up in Europe on the same day was a calendar 'quirk,' as CNN put it, with Obama being invited to speak by the German evangelical protestant church a year ago, before Trump was even elected.
'When we agreed to do this, they had not yet set the Trump schedule, we did not in fact know he would be there when we made this decision,' an Obama foundation official told CNN.
Read more:
