President Barack Obama is on what will likely be his last trip overseas as commander in chief. It's the end of a year long international farewell tour, but now the focus has shifted to the man succeeding him.
During a press conference in Germany, alongside Chancellor Angela Merkel, Obama revealed that he's "cautiously optimistic" about his successor.
"There's something about the solemn responsibilities of that office, the extraordinary demands of the United States that forces you to focus, demands seriousness," he said.
Both leaders were careful to strike a serious, hopeful tone about the president-elect.
Merkel says the transition process and sharing of information between the two adminsitrations is encouraging and she expects to maintain a strong level of cooperation with the U.S. in the future.
When asked if he should tell Americans to stop protesting the results of the election Obama said, "I would not advise people who feel strongly or are concerned about some of the issues raised during the course of the campaign, I would not advise them to be silent."
He encouraged Americans to "engage in citizenry continuously" not just when something upsets them or a situation pops up.
"He (Donald Trump) ran an incredibly unconventional campaign and it resulted in the biggest upset in modern political history" the president said.
When a reporter asked the two what it was like to be meeting for the last time, Merkel joked that she's free to move about her country and can still visit with Obama. The president made a phone shape with his hand and put it up to his ear encouraging Merkel to call him (the irony of this wasn't lost on me).