Obama welcomed Trump to Washington a year ago. They haven't spoken since.
By Kevin Liptak, CNN White House Producer
Updated 1100 GMT (1900 HKT) January 18, 2018
Trump vs. Obama: A rocky relationship
Configuration
title: Iran Uprising against the high living expenses people chanting Death to Rouhani duration: 00:06:04 sub-clip duration: 1:05 site: Youtube author: null published: Thu Dec 28 2017 11:42:20 GMT-0500 (Eastern Standard Time) intervention: no description:
Trump applauds Iran's anti-government protest
US President Donald Trump speaks about his administration's National Security Strategy at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC, December 18, 2017.
President Donald Trump rolled out his first "National Security Strategy", a combative document designed to put meat on the bones of his "America First" sloganeering.
Trump falsely claims he's signed most bills
CASTLE DALE, UT - OCTOBER 9: Emissions rise from the smokestacks of Pacificorp's 1440 megawatt coal fired power plant on October 9, 2017 in Castle Dale, Utah. It was announced today that the Trump administration's EPA will repeal the Clean Power Plan,that was put in place by the Obama administration.
Trump tweets climate change could be 'good'
President Donald Trump turns to talk to the gathered media during a Christmas Eve video teleconference with members of the mIlitary at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017.
Trump slams Russia dossier as 'bogus'
The controversies of Mar-a-Lago
PENSACOLA, FL - DECEMBER 08: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the Pensacola Bay Center on December 8, 2017 in Pensacola, Florida. Mr. Trump was expected to further endorse Alabama Republican Senatorial candidate Roy Moore who is running against Democratic challenger Doug Jones in the adjacent state.
Trump: We have a rigged system
President Donald Trump holds an African American History Month listening session attended by nominee to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Ben Carson (R), Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison Omarosa Manigault (L) and other officials in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on February 1, 2017 in Washington, DC.
In his own words: Trump on African Americans
US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in Dade City, Florida, on November 1, 2016 and US Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump in Warren, Michigan, October 31, 2016 in Warren, Michigan.
Trump's false claim about Hillary and the FBI
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Former U.S. President Barack Obama (R) congratulates U.S. President Donald Trump after he took the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States.
Trump vs. Obama: A rocky relationship
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 09: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) presides over a meeting about immigration with Republican and Democrat members of Congress in the Cabinet Room at the White House January 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. In addition to seeking bipartisan solutions to immigration reform, Trump advocated for the reintroduction of earmarks as a way to break the legislative stalemate in Congress. )
Trump changes tone on immigration
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 09: U.S. President Donald Trump (R) presides over a meeting about immigration with Republican and Democrat members of Congress in the Cabinet Room at the White House January 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. In addition to seeking bipartisan solutions to immigration reform, Trump advocated for the reintroduction of earmarks as a way to break the legislative stalemate in Congress.
Trump slams, then supports surveillance bill
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 21: U.S. President Donald Trump tells reporters that he is leaving the White House to visit troops at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center December 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Trump said he was visiting the injured military service members to wish them a merry Christmas. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Trump: I'm a very stable genius
ron reagan jr ctn 2
Ron Reagan Jr.: Trump came to office unfit
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 15: U.S. President Donald Trump listens to a question as he speaks to members of the White House Press Corps prior to his Marine One departure from the South Lawn of the White House December 15, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Russia probe stokes Trump's rage
US President Donald Trump speaks at the FBI National Academy graduation ceremony on December 15, 2017 in Quantico, Virginia.
Trump: Only 'lies and deceit' from Pakistan
Trees planted where CNN filmed Trump golfing
title: Iran Uprising against the high living expenses people chanting Death to Rouhani duration: 00:06:04 sub-clip duration: 1:05 site: Youtube author: null published: Thu Dec 28 2017 11:42:20 GMT-0500 (Eastern Standard Time) intervention: no description:
Trump applauds Iran's anti-government protest
US President Donald Trump speaks about his administration's National Security Strategy at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC, December 18, 2017.
President Donald Trump rolled out his first "National Security Strategy", a combative document designed to put meat on the bones of his "America First" sloganeering.
Trump falsely claims he's signed most bills
CASTLE DALE, UT - OCTOBER 9: Emissions rise from the smokestacks of Pacificorp's 1440 megawatt coal fired power plant on October 9, 2017 in Castle Dale, Utah. It was announced today that the Trump administration's EPA will repeal the Clean Power Plan,that was put in place by the Obama administration. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
Trump tweets climate change could be 'good'
President Donald Trump turns to talk to the gathered media during a Christmas Eve video teleconference with members of the mIlitary at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017.
Trump slams Russia dossier as 'bogus'
The controversies of Mar-a-Lago
PENSACOLA, FL - DECEMBER 08: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the Pensacola Bay Center on December 8, 2017 in Pensacola, Florida. Mr. Trump was expected to further endorse Alabama Republican Senatorial candidate Roy Moore who is running against Democratic challenger Doug Jones in the adjacent state. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Trump: We have a rigged system
President Donald Trump holds an African American History Month listening session attended by nominee to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Ben Carson (R), Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison Omarosa Manigault (L) and other officials in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on February 1, 2017 in Washington, DC.
In his own words: Trump on African Americans
US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in Dade City, Florida, on November 1, 2016 and US Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump in Warren, Michigan, October 31, 2016 in Warren, Michigan.
Trump's false claim about Hillary and the FBI
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Former U.S. President Barack Obama (R) congratulates U.S. President Donald Trump after he took the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States.
Trump vs. Obama: A rocky relationship
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 09: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) presides over a meeting about immigration with Republican and Democrat members of Congress in the Cabinet Room at the White House January 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. In addition to seeking bipartisan solutions to immigration reform, Trump advocated for the reintroduction of earmarks as a way to break the legislative stalemate in Congress.
Trump changes tone on immigration
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 09: U.S. President Donald Trump (R) presides over a meeting about immigration with Republican and Democrat members of Congress in the Cabinet Room at the White House January 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. In addition to seeking bipartisan solutions to immigration reform, Trump advocated for the reintroduction of earmarks as a way to break the legislative stalemate in Congress.
Trump slams, then supports surveillance bill
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 21: U.S. President Donald Trump tells reporters that he is leaving the White House to visit troops at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center December 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Trump said he was visiting the injured military service members to wish them a merry Christmas. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Trump: I'm a very stable genius
ron reagan jr ctn 2
Ron Reagan Jr.: Trump came to office unfit
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 15: U.S. President Donald Trump listens to a question as he speaks to members of the White House Press Corps prior to his Marine One departure from the South Lawn of the White House December 15, 2017 in Washington, DC.
Russia probe stokes Trump's rage
US President Donald Trump speaks at the FBI National Academy graduation ceremony on December 15, 2017 in Quantico, Virginia.
Trump: Only 'lies and deceit' from Pakistan
Trees planted where CNN filmed Trump golfing
Trump and Obama haven't spoken in a year
The last time they spoke, Trump and Obama were standing on the East Front of the US Capitol on Inauguration Day
Washington (CNN)A year since they last met, President Donald Trump and his predecessor Barack Obama haven't spoken, the first time in decades two successive presidents have avoided communicating in the 12 months after handing off power.
Ties between presidents -- if not always friendly -- are usually at least existent. That Trump and Obama have avoided each other speaks to the unprecedented nature of the current White House, and the lingering animosity between two men who openly sparred during 2016's presidential campaign.
Trump hasn't shied away from blasting decisions Obama made during his tenure, and has steadily chipped away at key pieces of Obama's legacy like the Paris climate accord and the Affordable Care Act. He's also launched personal attacks, falsely claiming that Obama ordered the phones tapped at Trump Tower or that Obama failed to call family members of slain US servicemen.
Trump's strain with Obama marks departure from presidential fraternity
Trump's strain with Obama marks departure from presidential fraternity
Obama, meanwhile, has reserved his criticism of Trump for policy matters. On the rare occasions he's spoken publicly over the past year, he's made only veiled references to the current Oval Office occupant.
The last time they spoke, Trump and Obama were standing on the East Front of the US Capitol as an idling military helicopter stood nearby. Moments after Trump was inaugurated, Obama appeared loose and smiling, his post-presidency life about to begin.
Behind at the White House, tucked into a drawer in the Oval Office, was the traditional note left by a president to his successor.
"Congratulations on a remarkable run," Obama wrote. "Millions have placed their hopes in you, and all of us, regardless of party, should hope for expanded prosperity and security during your tenure."
Trump was touched by the note, and tried to arrange a phone call with Obama, people familiar with the situation have said. But Obama was flying cross-country to Palm Springs and Trump couldn't get through. When one of Obama's aides reached back out to the White House to return the call, the new President's staffers said Trump just wanted to say thank you for the note -- and wanted Obama to get the message. The men never connected directly.
Since then, there have been no conversations or meetings between the two men -- breaking a long line of first-year chats or sit-downs between incoming and outgoing presidents. Usually presidents rely on their predecessors for advice and counsel, even if their relationships are fraught with political differences or lingering electoral animosity. Sometimes they rely on them to carry out diplomatic functions in their stead.
Obama spoke on the phone with George W. Bush on February 27, 2009, to discuss his decision to withdraw some troops from Iraq. Bush encountered Bill Clinton on June 1, 2001, at a funeral in Boston. Clinton spoke with George H.W. Bush on September 15, 1993, at a White House ceremony for NAFTA. Bush Sr. spoke with Ronald Reagan -- under whom he served as vice president -- on April 26, 1989, during a meeting in Los Angeles.
Reagan spoke with Jimmy Carter on October 8, 1981, at the White House to discuss attending the funeral of slain Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat. Carter spoke with Gerald Ford on September 7, 1977, during a meeting at the White House. Ford spoke with Richard Nixon on November 1, 1974, at a hospital in Long Beach, California. And Nixon spoke with Lyndon B. Johnson at least twice before June 19, 1969, when Nixon said as much during a news conference.
No comments:
Post a Comment