--- title: President Obama: Donald Trump Needs to Stand Up to Russia description: President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a joint press conference on Thursday canonical: https://time.com/4575067/president-obama-donald-trump-russia/ author: Maya Rhodan article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-11-17T18:04:28.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-07T06:54:34.349Z article:section: Politics og:title: President Obama: Donald Trump Needs to Stand Up to Russia og:description: President Obama urged his successor "to stand up to Russia when they deviate from international norms" og:url: https://time.com/4575067/president-obama-donald-trump-russia/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb6b47bd0795225a2/6988aee2ab6d7738646abfe8/gettyimages-623849936.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4707 og:image:height: 2648 og:image:alt: U.S. President Obama Meets With Angela Merkel og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: President Obama: Donald Trump Needs to Stand Up to Russia twitter:description: President Obama urged his successor "to stand up to Russia when they deviate from international norms" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb6b47bd0795225a2/6988aee2ab6d7738646abfe8/gettyimages-623849936.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # President Obama: Donald Trump Needs to Stand Up to Russia > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=deed5d48-5765-4645-9db2-8f319619e819&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Obama Says Trump Needs to Stand Up to Russia [Watch (HLS stream): Obama Says Trump Needs to Stand Up to Russia](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Lbh6koIB.m3u8) (1:23)  _Published 2016-11-17. President Obama stood with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to deliver a stark message to his successor: it’s time to stand up to Russia._ by [Maya Rhodan](https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Nov 17, 2016 6:04 PM UTC by [Maya Rhodan](https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Nov 17, 2016 6:04 PM UTC [President Obama](http://time.com/4573569/barack-obama-greece-trip-election/) stood with [German Chancellor Angela Merkel](http://time.com/4484167/angela-merkel-germany-elections-refugees/) to deliver a stark message to his successor: it’s time to stand up to Russia. The U.S. leader said at a press conference on Thursday that he has attempted to take a “constructive approach” to the country’s relationship with Russia and he hopes that continues under [President-elect Donald Trump](http://time.com/4573889/donald-trump-potential-victories/). “My hope is that the President-elect coming in takes a similarly constructive approach,” Obama said. “That the President-elect is also willing to stand up to Russia when they deviate from international norms.” U.S. officials have accused Russia of meddling in the presidential election, something President Obama said he raised in a recent conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “There’s clear proof that they had engaged in cyberattacks,” Obama said Thursday. Obama, who was in Germany during his final international trip while in office, also reflected more generally on Trump’s election and how it connects to global changes and the “bumpy phase” many countries are experiencing. “I think that our politics everywhere are going to be going through this bumpy phase, but as long as we stay true to our democratic principles, as long as our elections have integrity … as long as there are checks and balances in our governments,” he said, “I have confidence that over the long term progress will continue.” ## Transcript My hope is that the president- elect coming in takes a similarly constructive approach. Finding areas where we can cooperate with Russia, where our values and interests align. [ SOUND ] But the President Elect also is willing to stand up to Russia where they are deviating from our values and international norms. And I don't expect that the President Elect will follow exactly, Our blueprint, or our approach. [ BLANK_AUDIO ] But my hope is, is that he does not simply take a real politic approach, and suggest that if we just cut some deals with Russia, Even if it hurts people or even if it violates international norms or even if it leaves smaller countries vulnerable. Or creates long term problems in regions like Syria that we just do whatever is convenient at the time. And that will be something that. 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