Barack Obama holds ‘informal talks’ with Rishi Sunak at No 10
Barack Obama made a surprise appearance in Westminster on Monday as he dropped into Number 10 for “informal” talks with Rishi Sunak.
The former US president was seen strolling along Downing Street, and briefly posed for the cameras in front of the famous black door.
He then went inside for an hour-long meeting with the Prime Minister, during which the pair discussed artificial intelligence over cups of tea.
Number 10 said the visit was a courtesy call, given that Mr Obama was already in the country on other business, and that his team had requested it.
Mr Obama, who was in the White House from 2009 until 2017, was in London promoting the work of his Obama Foundation charity, which promotes equal opportunities for girls and young men of colour, focusing on education and safer communities.
It was not clear whether Mr Obama – whose slogan was “yes we can” – gave Mr Sunak any political tips as the Prime Minister tries to reverse Tory fortunes.
Mr Sunak’s spokesman said: “He was making an informal courtesy drop-in as part of his trip to London, where he is conducting work of the Obama Foundation. It’s obviously not an official meeting – he was dropping in as part of his personal capacity.”
Downing Street would not say whether Mr Sunak would be happy to meet with other former presidents, such as Donald Trump, were Mr Trump to visit the UK. “I’m not going to speculate on future hypothetical meetings,” said the spokesman.
David Lammy, Labour’s shadow foreign secretary, was also set to meet Mr Obama on Monday night. The pair are old friends, having known each other since before the former president’s run for the White House in 2008.
