Obama Edges Back Into Public Eye But Steers Clear of Trump Talk
- He appeared at first public event since his White House exit
- Former president speaks with young people at Chicago event
Former U.S. President Barack Obama visits with youth leaders at the University of Chicago to help promote community organizing on April 24, in Chicago.
Photographer: Scott Olson/Getty ImagesBarack Obama, making his first formal public appearance since leaving the White House, made no mention Monday of the man who replaced him, as he argued partisanship and special interests have poisoned the political process and hindered the search for solutions.
Speaking inside a University of Chicago auditorium to about 400 people, the former Democratic president was relaxed and focused on how he plans to foster a new generation of leaders rather than past political battles or the current occupant of the White House. Obama and the six young adults who joined him on the stage never once uttered the name of President Donald Trump.