One Day After Threatening The UK, Obama Plays Golf With David Cameron
By Tyler Durden
Following his anti-Brexit Op-Ed which sparked much controversy and confusion as to just why the US president was interfering with yet another domestic issue, Obama held a press conference with UK PM David Cameron in which he in no uncertain terms threatened the UK with trade retaliation if the country were to exit the EU.
He said that “it’s fair to say that maybe some point down the line there might be a UK-US trade agreement but that’s not going to happen anytime soon because our focus is negotiating with a big bloc, the European Union, to get a trade agreement done. And the UK is going to be in the back of the queue, not because we don’t have a special relationship but because given the heavy lift on any trade agreement, us having access to a big market with a lot of countries rather than trying to do piecemeal trade agreements is hugely efficient.”
Friday’s full press conference can be watched below:
Incidentally, as reported earlier, thousands of Germans are protesting precisely the kind of “big trade deal” that Obama wants to entice the UK with, as support for the TTIP there has plunged from 55% in 2014 to only 17%. Germany is not alone: support for Obama’s “fair trade” deal has also tumbled in the US, with those supporting it tumbling from 53% to just 18%.
While it is unclear if Obama’s latest diplomatic snafu has hurt the anti-Brexit camp, what is clear is what Obama did the day after. He played golf with David Cameron, perhaps a hint of the “benefits” that any future premier will be deprived of should the democratic UK vote be against remaining in Europe.
It was Obama’s 286th round of golf in office, but the first time that Obama has golfed during an international trip, according to CBS News’ Mark Knoller.
As Reuters reports, Obama played a round of golf with British Prime Minister David Cameron at an exclusive course north of London on Saturday, making time in a busy overseas travel schedule for his favorite weekend pastime. Obama’s motorcade raced 20 miles (32 km) to The Grove after a meeting with the leader of Britain’s opposition Labour party, Jeremy Corbyn.
“The game at The Grove, a resort that is due to host the British Masters tournament later this year, is a sign of the close personal relationship between the two leaders: Obama rarely mixes business with his preferred way to take a break, and almost always golfs with friends and staff.“
Reporters were allowed to watch as Obama, ignoring damp and chilly weather, emerged from the long grass near a duck pond.
“Ooooh!” Obama groaned as he narrowly missed what appeared to be a 12-foot shot.
“Did you see that?” he shouted to reporters. “Robbed!”
There was no official word on the score.
Saturday is golf day for Obama, who usually plays on …read more
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