Former US President Barack Obama received a rock-star welcome in Berlin as he appeared at a public debate on Thursday with Chancellor Angela Merkel, whom he praised as one of his “favorite partners” during his presidency.
Security was tight in front of the German capital’s iconic Brandenburg Gate, where Mr Obama and Ms Merkel appeared on a podium before thousands attending a gathering marking the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.
After lauding Ms Merkel as someone who had done “outstanding work,” Mr Obama, citing the rise of nationalism and xenophobia in parts of the world, told the crowd that “we have to push back against those trends that would violate human rights.”
In a veiled reference to Donald Trump, he spoke of the need to see development aid and diplomacy as essential aspects of national security policy. “We can't hide behind a wall,” he said.
