Barack Obama made a surprise appearance at Downing Street today for talks with Rishi Sunak.
The former US president, 62, waved and smiled as he walked to the famous door number 10 this afternoon.
The visit, which lasted about an hour as the pair chatted in the prime minister’s study, was described as a “courtesy call” as Obama happened to be in London.
It was the first time the two leaders had met, and the pair are said to have discussed a range of topics including artificial intelligenceone on one in Margaret Thatcher’s former study while enjoying a cup of tea.
No. 10 said little about the content of their conversation, but both men have two daughters and a shared agenda to promote education and opportunities for girls.
Barack Obama made a surprise appearance at Downing Street today for talks with Rishi Sunak
The former US president waved and smiled as he walked to the famous door number 10 this afternoon
It is not clear why Mr Obama is in Britain, and his visit was not on the government’s business agenda that day
The agenda is a central mission of Obama’s foundation, and speaking at a business event in Warwickshire earlier, the Prime Minister said: ‘I want my girls to grow up in an economy and society where there are no limits to their ambitions.’
When leaving the meeting hHe smiled and said, “I’m tempted” when reporters asked him for his opinion on the state of Russia’s democracy before climbing into a Range Rover with U.S. Ambassador to Britain Jane D. Hartley just after 4 p.m. .
Obama later held private talks with Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer.
One of Obama’s most notable previous trips was in 2016, when he infamously stood next to David Cameron and warned that Britain would be “at the back of the queue” for a trade deal after leaving the EU.
That intervention during the referendum battle angered Brexiteers, although they also saw it as useful for their anti-establishment campaign.
Britain has not yet signed a trade deal with the US, although there was a big push to do so when Donald Trump was president.
One of Obama’s most prominent previous trips was in 2016, when he infamously stood next to David Cameron and warned that Britain would be “at the back of the queue” for a trade deal after leaving the EU.
Obama was in the White House from 2009 to 2017, with Joe Biden as his vice president.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘He was making an informal courtesy visit as part of his trip to London where he is carrying out work for the Obama Foundation.’
The spokesperson added: “I think President Obama’s team reached out and the Prime Minister was obviously very happy to meet with him and discuss the work of the Obama Foundation.”
Obama served two terms in the White House from 2009 to 2017 before being succeeded by Republican Donald Trump.