In Greece Police fire tear gas at anti-Obama protesters

Asked for his comments on what the Democratic Party needed to do to improve its prospects for the next elections, he stressed that it had to work on its popular base and cited the need for “new voices and new ideas” to emerge, referring obliquely to the end of the Clinton machine that the November 8 defeat constituted. During his campaign, Mr Trump accused a U.S. judge of not being able to be impartial because of his Mexican heritage.

On the agenda in Greece were numerous economic and social issues roiling Europe – many of which are felt most acutely in Greece.

“If people feel that they’re losing control of their future, they will push back”. He said inequality, on more vivid display due to widespread technology, now posed one of the biggest threats to democratic nations, their stability and prosperity.

The violence broke out as youths in motorcycle helmets and gas masks, armed with wooden clubs and petrol bombs, tried to break a police cordon in front of a barrier formed by police buses.

The 55-year-old Obama has chosen the “cradle of democracy” Greece to deliver a speech addressing the uncertainties that have led to the rise of populists like Trump.

He said communities were increasingly feeling disconnected from their governments and other institutions.

In his remarks, the president defended the idea of fashioning policies that knit the world more closely together while alleviating some of its economic ills.

President Obama will, however, face a similar defiance in Greece from an organized anti-US group that will protest upon his arrival. “Any action by a president or any result of an election or any legislation that has proven flawed can be corrected through the process of democracy”.

“Part of the reason for my visit here is to highlight the steps taken by Greece; major sacrifices by Greek people”, – Greek economy wasn’t sustainable, economy needs to attract investments and create jobs; you should stay here, not emigrate; Greece will see better days; refers to debt relief and cites his administration’s support for the country.

Obama, who is in Athens until Wednesday afternoon, was staying at a luxury seaside resort on a peninsula south of Athens, less than 15 km (9 miles) away from an disused airport that is temporarily housing hundreds of migrants and refugees. He began his second day here by touring the Acropolis, which was emptied out for the president and his entourage.

Obama is being escorted through the museum by its president, Professor Dimitrios Pandermalis.

The U.S. president lingered at the base of the Parthenon, gazing at the columns and glancing around at the panoramic view of Athens as he chatted with his guide, Eleni Banou of the Culture Ministry’s antiquities division.

But authorities banned demonstrations in a large area of the city centre, to ensure that protesters came nowhere near Mr Obama, who was attending a formal dinner at the residence of Greek president Procopis Pavlopoulos. “The invitation is still valid”. “I will continue to urge creditors to take the steps needed to put Greece on a path towards sustained economic recovery”, he said.

At each stop on his trip, Obama expects to confront apprehension from world leaders who fear Trump could bring about seismic changes in USA foreign policy and withdraw the US from its traditional leadership role. The British prime minister left office after his country voted against his counsel to pull out of the European Union, the sort of worldwide institution Obama has promoted.

Berlin is the next stop on his European farewell tour, where he will meet his “Quint” counterparts – German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister Theresa May and Italian PM Matteo Renzi.

“It gives the world a framework for the common protection of our planet”, Merkel and Obama wrote.