Nationalsången framfördes av BJ The Chicago Kid.

Under natten har Barack Obama under högtidliga former hållt sitt avskedstal som president efter åtta år på posten. Talet hölls på McCormick Place i hemstaden Chicago där även BJ The Chicago Kid sjöng nationalsången innan själva talet hölls. Den avgående presidenten framhöll i sitt tal vid flera tillfällen vikten av att värna demokratiska värden på flera olika plan.

“I am asking you to hold fast to that a written into our founding documents, that ideal whisper that slaves and abolitionists, that spirit song by immigrants and homesteaders and those who march for justice. That creed reaffirmed by those who planted flags from foreign battlefield to the surface of the moon, and decree of the core of every American who story is not yet written — yes, we can. Yes, we did. Yes, we can. Thank You. God bless you. And may God continue to bless the United States of America.”

Obama skickade så klart även en passning till sin efterträdare Donald Trump:

“[W]ithout some common baseline of facts, without a willingness to admit new information and concede that your opponent might be making a fair point and that science and reason matter, then we’re going to keep talking past each other. And we’ll make common ground and compromise impossible. And isn’t that part of what so often makes politics dispiriting?… It is not just dishonest, the selective sorting of the facts, it self-defeating. Because, as my mom used to tell me, reality has a way of catching up with you.”

Obama riktade även ett särskilt tack till sin fru Michelle och barnen:

“Michelle…for the past twenty-five years, you have been not only my wife and mother of my children, you have been my best friend “

When you marry your #bestfriend #relationshipgoals ❤️? #obama farewell address

Ett filmklipp publicerat av BET International (@bet_intl)

Reaktionerna på Barack Obamas avskedstal var som väntat starkt känslomässiga, framförallt från artister och profiler inom hiphopvärlden. Se några i urval nedan:

#FarewellObama ❤

Ett foto publicerat av R A P S O D Y (@rapsody)

No complaints! Great job!

Ett foto publicerat av Meek Mill (@meekmill)

Thank You, & Farewell @barackobama & @michelleobama. True admiration for these two leaders. You two will always be OUR POTUS & FLOTUS. Made the people, this country & this generation believe in CHANGE! You even made my 88yr old(at the time) Grandmother rest her soul, BELIEVE. She told me she couldn’t believe this nation, or it’s leaders would let a black man become president. She’s seen such bad things in her time done to Black people that she couldn’t BELIEVE it would happen. I told her it will happen!! And she was the 1st person I called when you WON!! And she said she will BELIEVE from now on at 88 yrs old. She passed in 2016 but I’m so happy she got to see you be President. So thank you for making us BELIEVE. ?? #FarewellObama

Ett foto publicerat av Fabolous (@myfabolouslife)

Thank you for an amazing 8 years. ?

Ett foto publicerat av G-Eazy (@g_eazy)

I wont Obama to go out there and just say , “bye.” then leave the platform.

Ett foto publicerat av THE UNICORN (@erykahbadu)


 

Greatness, class, integrity…King. Salute President Barack Obama…we're going to miss you.??

Ett foto publicerat av Leela James (@leelajamesofficial)

65ba07add7a32f7b0a037f23