President Obama is holding a solo press conference Thursday afternoon in London to shape the message coming out of the G20 summit, as he appears to be losing ground on economic policy among traditional allies.
So far, the U.S. president has had no trouble holding the spotlight on his first trip overseas as commander-in-chief.
But while he and first lady Michelle Obama's meeting with Queen Elizabeth made headlines around the world, Obama appears to be struggling to hold the gavel and drive the policy debate.
White House aides told FOX News the president is holding a solo press conference to drive his own message and give foreign reporters access -- which keeps Obama and his global policy platform visible around the world. The rest of the G20 nations are holding a separate news conference prior to the president's.
"I am absolutely confident that this meeting will reflect enormous consensus about the need to work in concert to deal with these problems," Obama said at the summit, as he and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown predicted Thursday's emergency G20 economic summit would produce a significant global deal to tackle the deepening worldwide recession.
But others weren't so sure.
The U.S. had already backed off its calls for countries to spend a specific percentage of GDP on stimulus ahead of the economic summit, as European leaders balked at the call. Instead, old European powers are now making demands of the U.S., with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel uniting to push Obama on international financial regulations. They suggested Obama's substance could end up playing second fiddle to his style by the time the meeting's over.
Sarkozy, while saying he has "confidence" in Obama, still warned that France and Germany would reject "false compromises" and considered concrete steps on tax havens, hedge funds and ratings agencies crucial.
Paris and Berlin want definitive agreements on a crackdown on tax havens and action on other regulatory issues, rather than simple commitments to reform. The summit is also expected to consider lightly regulated hedge funds and how to clear bank balance sheets of shaky securities.
Sarkozy said that "without new regulation there will be no confidence. It's a major non-negotiable objective."
Merkel said both she and Sarkozy had come to London "in a very constructive mood." But she said, "We do not want results that have no impact in practice." - FOX News
That is our President. He is getting what he wants so he is going to do his own thing. I am sure that he has his staff planning Town Hall Meetings around the World to sell his Ideas and Message. Shame on those bully Leaders for not giving Our President What he Wants. He has a Mandate! He Won!
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