Digital News Report- President George W Bush held his final press conference this morning at the White House, which began by thanking the many members of the White House pres corp. The questions covered the full length of his presidency and focused on reflections of his time at the White House.
When asked about the many harsh criticism he has received over the years, he responded by saying that he would not allow the “loud critics to prevent [him] from doing what [he] needed” for the United States. He went on to say, “in times of war, people get emotional.” At the end of the press conference he admitted that he was “disappointed with the tone in Washington D.C.” and hopes that things are different when President-elect Obama takes office.
When reflecting on the mistakes of his presidency, he cited the “Mission Accomplished” banner displayed on USS Abraham Lincoln as one that particularly stood out as sending the “wrong message.” He also added his response to Katrina, some of his rhetoric, Abu Ghraib, and his delay on introducing immigration reform to his list of mistakes.
President Bush also stated that he “strongly disagreed” with the sentiment that America’s reputation has been damaged in the past few years. He once more reiterated that he was not concerned about popularity, but rather protecting the United States and evoked the memory of September 11th. He felt that much of the world views the United States as “strong [and] compassionate.”
He also wished President-elect Obama the best of luck and warned him of the harsh criticism and disappointment that comes with the job. But he went on to say that the job is exciting and profound, despite these difficulties. He also warned that the “most urgent threat” that President-elect Barack Obama will face is the potential for an “attack on our homeland.” President Bush will leave the White House on January 20th when Obama is sworn into office as the 44th President of the United States.