Minneapolis, MN – Former Democratic Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak told his Facebook followers today that the thought of Donald Trump entering the White House is more than he can take.
Rybak, who served as Mayor of Minneapolis from 2002 to 2014, was among many political figures and celebrities invited to the White House for a farewell party for President Barack Obama. Among the people who attended the soiree on Friday night included George and Amal Clooney, Meryl Streep, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Jason Sudeikis, Olivia Wilde, Jerry Seinfeld, Education Secretary Arne Duncan and former Attorney General Eric Holder.
In a Facebook post reflecting upon his recent visit to see the President, Rybak said that his heart sank as he walked down Pennsylvania Avenue at the sight of a giant reviewing stand that was built in front of the White House for the upcoming inauguration ceremony. He went on to say that eight years ago, he was filled with pride when he saw Obama and his family as they were about to enter their new home, but now, knowing that it was going to house Donald Trump was almost more than he could take.
Rybak continued to fawn over the outgoing president. “I felt so hollow when I thought about all we have had and what we will lose. But something really wonderful happened next and I hope it gives hope to those of you who love President Obama as much as I do.”
“I went through security in the White House because the President invited me in to come by for a few minutes before he left office. I turned the corner to the Oval Office to see him looking more energized than he has in months, and with that huge smile on this face that has lifted so many of us so many times,” Rybak wrote.
In the post, Rybak recounts that he had given the President a copy of his book, and he recalled to Obama about the thrill he felt nine years ago when he and his wife, Megan O’Hara stood in the Des Moines Convention Center just after Obama won the Iowa caucus when the announcer said, “And now the next First Family of the United States of America.”
Rybak said that he was overwhelmed telling the President this story because it was such a moment of pride, a beginning of a long path to getting him into the White House.
Rybak said that the President put his arm on his shoulder and looked at him intensely, saying “We aren’t done yet.”
The President, who just returned on January 3 from a holiday vacation in Hawaii, told Rybak that he will be taking a little vacation to “get a little sun, but then we are right back at it.” Obama’s vacations during his eight years in the White House have cost taxpayers close to $85 Million according to the watchdog group, Judicial Watch. Obama’s similar holiday family vacation to Hawaii in 2015 was almost $4.8 million alone.
Rybak said the President told him that he will be doing work with youth and families, getting more people engaged in voting and protecting liberties. Rybak said, “Then he said the words that meant the most to me: ‘The best is yet to come.'”
The former Minneapolis Mayor then proclaimed that he believes that Barack Obama was the greatest president of his lifetime and that after his talk with the soon-to-be-former president, he didn’t feel as dreadful as he first did when he walked by the reviewing stands outside the White House.