US President Barack Obama will give his farewell speech in Chicago on Tuesday, wrapping up 8 years in office. Mr Obama formally ends his term on Jan. 20, when President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated in Washington DC.
Obama will undoubtedly use his final official speech to look back on what he considers his greatest achievements – most notably his healthcare reforms, steady economic stewardship, and historic deals with both Cuba and Iran.
However, Mr Trump has cast a shadow over each one of these developments, promising to undo each of them in his own unique way.
For his part, President Obama has said he will not give a running commentary of President Trump’s tenure, but has hinted at a break with tradition by saying he will speak up on issues that raise “core questions” of American values.
While Tuesday’s speech will be a time for reflection, it also marks the beginning of what could be a historically turbulent American political transition.
Simon is the founder of Foreign Brief who served as managing director from 2015 to 2021. A lawyer by training, Simon has worked as an analyst and adviser in the private sector and government. Simon’s desire to help clients understand global developments in a contextualised way underpinned the establishment of Foreign Brief. This aspiration remains the organisation’s driving principle.