Barack Obama’s Trip to Glasgow a huge success

Former president Barack Obama during his visit to Glasgow

By Jacob Hughes

Former US President, Barack Obama made a stop off at Glasgow as a part of his UK tour. His show ‘An Evening with President Barack Obama’, drew in 12,150 people to the OVO Hydro to discuss about what comes next, for America, and for all of us.

Obama served as the 44th President of the United States of America, from 2009 to 2017. He was the first African American to be elected President, breaking a 220-year barrier. During his two terms in office, he reformed the US healthcare system, often called ‘Obamacare’, allowing millions of Americans to get health insurance coverage.  In 2009 he was awarded the Nobel Peace prize for his efforts in international diplomacy. 

Obama was joined onstage with award-winning British journalist and author Sathnam Sanghera, where he reflected on his time spent at the White House and discussed the challenges the US and the wider world faces in uncertain times.

He brought up the use of technology and social media was so beneficial during his campaign in 2008, even though it was so new. But also mentioned how they are being used by groups to spread hate and divide people.

He said: “It connected people for good, but also for ill.

“It’s part of the reason why young people can feel discouraged. It’s not a healthy diet that our brains are on at the moment, and it’s about to get even more troubling with AI where it’s going to get even more difficult for us to distinguish between what is true and what is not.

“We can see how big lies and misinformation can distort and enrage and incite violence. So, we're going to hold these folks responsible.

“It is hard for democracy to function if we can’t at least agree on the facts.”

The former president also mentioned how social media is used to fuel fear and anger and that a drift towards extremism was "not inevitable".

His stop in Glasgow was one of three in the UK, with Belfast the day before and Manchester the day after. He stayed at the five-star Blysthwood Hotel, where was pictured avoiding crowds going in and out through a back door.