US President Barack Obama on Wednesday gave his farewell speech to the nation, saying America is now "a better, stronger place" than it was, as he pledged a smooth transition of power to his successor President-elect Donald Trump.
Echoing his campaign slogan from 2008, Obama said, "Yes, we did. Yes, we can." Obama asked Americans to believe in their ability to bring change, saying, "I do have one final ask of you as your President... same thing I asked when you took a chance on me 8 years ago. I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change, but in yours."
"All of us, regardless of party, should throw ourselves into the task of rebuilding our democratic institutions. America is no fragile thing. But the gains of our long journey to freedom are not assured. Our democracy is threatened whenever we take it for granted," President said in his speech at the McCormick Place, the city's main convention center.
Speaking about the growing threat of terrorism, Obama said that the global coalition against ISIS has taken out their leaders, and taken away half their territory. "ISIS will be destroyed, no one who threatens America will ever be safe," he added.
President Obama also said that rivals like Russia and China could not match US influence around the world unless the American Constitution is betrayed and becomes just another big country that bullies other smaller countries in the world.
Asserting that racism was still a "divisive force", he said, "I have lived long enough to know that race relations are better than they were 10, or 20, or 30 years ago, no matter what folks say. Going forward, we must uphold laws against discrimination – in hiring, in housing, in education and the criminal justice system."
Towards the end, Obama also spoke about US First Lady Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha saying, "Michelle, for the past 25 years, you have been not only my wife and mother of my children, but my best friend."
"Of all that I have done in my life, I am most proud to be your (Malia and Sasha) dad," he said.
Obama plans to remain in Washington for the next two years while his younger daughter, Sasha, finishes high school.
Watch his full address:
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