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Friday, November 13, 2026Nov 13

Obama to foreigners on US election: Buckle your seatbelts

President Barack Obama is welcomed by the Young African Leaders Initiative as they shout "happy birthday," in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. President Obama launched YALI in 2010 to support young African leaders in hope of strengthening democratic governance and encouraging peace and security across Africa. Thursday Aug. 4th is President Barack Obama's birthday, he turns 55 years old. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
President Barack Obama is welcomed by the Young African Leaders Initiative as they shout "happy birthday," in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. President Obama launched YALI in 2010 to support young African leaders in hope of strengthening democratic governance and encouraging peace and security across Africa. Thursday Aug. 4th is President Barack Obama's birthday, he turns 55 years old. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama has a message for youth from other countries watching America’s rollicking presidential election: “I hope you’ve buckled your seatbelts.”

Obama is holding a town hall with participants in his Young African Leaders Initiative. The program brings young Africans to the U.S. for six-week fellowships at American universities.

Obama says the campaign is a good lesson in the fact that democracy is hard everywhere. He says it’s “always challenging and it’s always messy.”

The president tells young Africans that he wants them to know that Africa is one of the areas on which leaders in Washington agree. He says Republicans and Democrats see the importance of the U.S. building strong partnerships with African people and countries.