President Barack Obama says his daughters do not intend to pursue a future in politics—thanks to the influence of his wife, Michelle.
But he says the girls “could not help but be patriotic” given the environment where they have grown up.
During Obama’s eight years in office, the first lady became one of the most sought-after Democratic surrogates. But she detests politics and repeatedly has said she will never run for public office.
Obama says his daughters—18-year-old Malia and 15-year-old Sasha—were disappointed in the outcome of the presidential election. Donald Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton, who had been Obama’s secretary of state.
He says he and his wife try to teach their daughters resilience.
The president says, “They don’t mope.”
Meanwhile, Obama says that claims of voter fraud in the U.S. elections are “fake news,” and that the U.S. is the only democracy that makes it harder for its citizens to vote.
Obama referred in his final presidential news conference to election fraud claims repeatedly raised by Donald Trump during his campaign. He didn’t use is successor’s name, but said claims of voter fraud have been “disproved.”
Obama says there is an “ugly history” behind restrictive voting that traces back to the era of slavery.
Obama also warned that many Trump voters also feel disenfranchised. He says those people feel forgotten, looked down upon or fear that their children don’t have the same opportunities as other Americans.
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