Obama: Trump needs to work on temperament

Donald Trump will have to recognize and work on weaknesses in his temperament, President Obama said Monday, if he wants to be a successful president. 

{mosads}”Trump has to acknowledge his weaknesses,” Obama said in a news conference with reporters, his first extended comments since the election and his meeting with the president-elect last week.

“I think what will happen with the presidential-elect — there will be certain elements of his temperament that will not serve him well unless he recognizes them and corrects them. Because when you’re a candidate, and you say something that is inaccurate or controversial, it has less impact than it does when you’re president of the United States.” 

Obama continued: “Everybody around the world is paying attention. Markets move. National security issues require a level of precision in order to make sure you don’t make mistakes, and I think he recognizes that this is different and so do the American people.” 

Obama declined to comment on whether he thought Trump was qualified for the office. 

The president was one of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s most aggressive surrogates on the campaign trail, frequently hitting Trump on his temperament and lack of experience.