Barack Obama goes on 'rant' against Trump-style 'populism'

U.S. President Barack Obamaended the Three Amigos news conference by addressing the Trump in the room.

Justafter he wound up his answer to thelast question of the day, Obamalaunchedintoa"rant" against the kind of controversialrhetoric associated with Donald Trump's Republicanprimary campaign.

"If you'll allow me, Iwant to say one last thing because it has been a running thread in a bunch questions this whole issue of populism," Obama said.

The president then suggested someonetake a minute to look up the meaning of the term populism to represent the interests of the common people that isoften used to describe Trump's campaign style.

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Obamasaid he got into politics to help people, to make surethe poor had the same chances to succeed as the wealthy, that working moms had trustworthy child care, that the taxsystem was fair and that children were getting a "decent education."

"Now, I suppose that makes me a populist," Obama said.

"Somebody else who has never shown any regard for workers, has never fought on behalf of social justice issues or making sure that poor kids are getting a decent shot in life, or have health carein fact, have worked against economic opportunity for workers and ordinary people they don't suddenly become a populist because they say something controversial in order to win votes. That's not the measure of populism, that's nativism, or xenophobia, or worse. Or, it's just cynicism."

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Obama said throughout the news conference that while the global economic system had left some people behind, and though some of the anti-trade talk in the U.K. and in the U.S. was based on legitimate concerns, finding solutionstakes time and hard work.

"Let's be clear, somebody who labels, us versus them, or engages in rhetoric about how we're going to look after ourselves and take it to the other guy, that's not the definition of populism," Obama said.

After making his point, Obama cut the silence by saying,"Sorry, this is one of the prerogatives of when you're at the end of your term you go on these occasional rants."

A controversial comparison to Hitler

Earlier in the press conference, Prime Minister JustinTrudeau and Mexican PresidentEnrique Pena Nieto were asked to comment directly on Trump's anti-Mexican, anti-trade talk throughout hiscampaign.

PenaNieto was asked if he stood by comments he made in the past comparing Trump toHitler and Mussolini. Presented withan opportunity to back away from those remarks, the Mexican president did not take advantage of it.

Hesaid that co-operation between nations on trade and other issues has enriched countries, and those relationships need to be strengthened, not destroyed in favour of calls for a return to isolationism and fear of the other.

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"In the past, some leaders addressed their societies in those terms. Hitler and Mussolini did that and the outcome, it's clear to everyone, resulted in devastation and turned out to be a tragedy for mankind,"PenaNieto said.

Trudeautook a more measured approach to answering why he was not more forcefully countering Trump's anti-NAFTA campaign,saying he was looking forward to working with whoeverlanded in the White House.

"It's essential that we understand that regardless of electoral rhetoric, Canada, the United States and Mexico will continue to have tremendously close relationships, economically, culturally, socially, familially, historically and towardthe future."