Obama: I Can't Negotiate Treaties When Doing 'All Kinds of Stuff' for Campaign

President Obama explained Saturday that he told Russia’s President that he would have “more flexibility” after reelection to work with Vladimir Putin because he was “off campaigning and doing all kinds of stuff.”

Following a question from an audience member about open mic comments, the president told News 4 KRNV in Reno, Nevada, “The discussion there very much just had to do with the fact that it’s hard to negotiate additional treaties when I’m off campaigning and doing all kinds of stuff.”

Obama said, “At the time, Mr. Putin was still putting together a new government because he had just been reelected. And so, when you’re negotiating between major nuclear powers about something of so much importance you want to make sure that everybody’s focused.”

During a private conversation with then-Russian president Medvedev, Obama was overheard on a live microphone saying, “On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this can be solved. But it’s important for him to give me space. This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.”