Barack Obama revealed he once had a “crush” on a Qantas flight attendant – as he embarked on his lucrative speaking tour of Australia on Tuesday night.
The ex-US president met with former Secretary of State Julie Bishop in Sydney, with people paying hundreds to listen to him discuss leadership and other issues, including China.
The sold-out crowd had to wait more than 20 minutes for the event to start after it was delayed because at 7:45 p.m. “massive” queues were still trying to get into the International Convention Center.
Despite the delay, Obama still received a standing ovation from the crowd after taking the stage to the tune of Stevie Wonder.
The ovation was a stark contrast to earlier on Tuesday, when Sydney residents blasted the ex-president over the huge “annoying” motorcade that was carrying him and his wife Michelle through the city.
At the event, Obama opened his presentation by welcoming Sydney and describing his love for the city.
“Sydney is amazing, we had a wonderful time here, it’s one of the greatest cities in the world.”
Of his first visit as an eight-year-old, he added: “I traveled from Indonesia, where my mother lived at the time, to my grandparents in Hawaii, and traveled unaccompanied,” he described his first trip.
“We had to stop for a day for the connecting flight and Qantas stewardess looked after me very well.”
“I had a huge crush on her,” he said.
The ex-US President met former Secretary of State Julie Bishop at the event in Sydney
Former US President Barack Obama was spotted having late afternoon coffee on Tuesday
Obama received a standing ovation from the crowd after taking the stage to the tune of Stevie Wonder
Former US President Barack Obama is currently in Australia for a speaking tour moderated by former Secretary of State Julie Bishop (centre). The 66-year-old posed at the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney in a cream Carla Zampatti suit totaling $1848
“I felt very cultured, very cosmopolitan traveling alone and this is my first connection to Sydney.
“And it gets better every time I come back.”
The event was hosted by Ms Bishop and the 66-year-old spared no expense, appearing in a cream Carla Zampatti suit valued at a total of $1848.
In addition to the sold-out crowd, around 500 people tuned in to the lecture online, with tickets selling for around $400 to purchase a link to the stream.
If you wanted to hear Obama speak, you had to dig deep into your pocket for a ticket, the normal price was just under $200.
The event’s “Platinum Package,” which costs a whopping $895 and includes a welcome cocktail at an hour-long drinks event, a commemorative ribbon and an autographed copy of Mr. Obama’s book, is now sold out.
With around 9,000 attending the Evening with President Obama in Sydney and 10,500 in Melbourne, the former President could be in for a $1 million+ payday.
It’s the first leg of a whistle-stop tour that will also see the former president speak in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Wiradjuri woman Yvonne Weldon welcomed the country before Mr. Obama and Mrs. Bishop took the stage to loud applause.
Questioned by Ms Bishop on China’s rise, the former president hailed President Xi Jinping for his “powerful and confident” demeanor.
Obama opened his presentation by welcoming Sydney and describing his love for the city
Former First Lady Michelle Obama leaves the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney. She was later seen enjoying a yacht excursion north of the city
Tuesday’s event was moderated by Ms. Bishop, who previously met Obama at the White House
Those who wanted to hear Obama speak had to shell out heavily for a ticket, with a standard ticket costing just under $200
Mr Obama said China had started to change “after I left office” and the country began cracking down on freedoms within its borders after President Xi sensed the next US leader – Donald Trump – was becoming more forgiving would be.
“I think he saw an opportunity when my successor took office because the US president didn’t seem to care that much about a rules-based international system,” Obama said.
“As a consequence, I think, including China’s position, we can exploit the apparent international vacuum on many of these issues.”
He said that the US-China relationship was “significantly strained” and that tensions “won’t go away anytime soon”.
“Neither should they, because I think there are some fundamental differences in terms of how we work when you look at the South China Sea,” he told the crowd.
“The fact is that if China starts claiming what were previously international waters, which will make life difficult for its neighbors and everyone in the long run, I don’t even think it will be good for China.”
Obama and his wife Michelle landed in Australia Sunday night ahead of their speaking tour and have since visited several locations including the Opera House and Balmoral Beach.
The ex-president was spotted enjoying an afternoon coffee on Tuesday while Michelle headed to Mosman Bay on a yacht and cruised around the harbor for about an hour.
However, the pair were fired upon by locals, who blew up the “annoying” motorcade transporting them through the city.
Some have asked for information on who is paying for the convoy of black SUVs, while others have questioned why Obama has such a large security presence for an ex-president.
Barack Obama took a suave picture as he greeted fans ahead of his lucrative speech Tuesday night
Former US President Barack Obama (centre) waves to onlookers after leaving the Bathers Pavilion in Balmoral on Monday
However, due to the lucrative nature of the event, he was criticized by some Sydney residents who were unhappy with his motorcade.
Taking to social media, one critic asked: “Barack Obama is driving a 20-car motorcade across the country.
“Why is the NSW taxpayer bearing the cost of his detail? Jesus Christ, he’s going to make at least a million dollars from his speaking tour, so HE should pay for it.”
Another wrote, “One can only hope Barrack Obama and his wife Michael waved to the homeless as he sped by in his taxpayer-funded motorcade.”
While a third said: “Flew in on a private jet. Uses so many gas guzzlers and our police because he’s ‘oh so important’.
‘Lectures on climate change.’
Obama was greeted by swarms of fans Tuesday morning as he stepped out of the Four Seasons Hotel.
The security presence around the former president was massive on Tuesday, with droves of police officers lining the streets outside the Four Seasons.
President Obama’s last official visit to Australia was for the G20 summit in Brisbane in November 2014 – and before he stepped off a private jet with Michelle on Sunday, he had not been seen in public with his wife for last year.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese received Obama at Kirribilli House on Monday morning.
The presidential couple were all smiles as they posed for the camera together, enjoying the views of the harbor while holding black umbrellas amid a subtle drizzle.
“It’s my honor to welcome President @barackobama to Sydney,” Albanese captioned the post on Twitter, which has since garnered more than a million views.
President Obama’s last official visit to Australia was for the G20 summit in Brisbane in November 2014 – and before he stepped off a private jet with Michelle on Sunday, he had not been seen in public with his wife for last year.