Barack Obama held the opening speech of Bits & Pretzels on 29th of September about his years as president. The Start-Up Festival, which takes place during the Wiesn period, traditionally moves the last day of the discussions to the Oktoberfest tents. So there will be the "Oktoberfest Networking-Event" again in 2019, which will take place this year on the 1st of October in the Schottenhamel tent.
However, Obama then decided - although he had bought leather trousers - against a visit to the Oktoberfest. He explained during his performance that he would rather show the Lederhosen to his wife Michelle at home - even though he liked them when he looked in the mirror.
Obama also explained that his team would have liked to visit the Oktoberfest, but that he would probably have had to put on a disguise himself in order not to be recognized. A very relaxed visit to Wiesn would certainly have been difficult for a former US president...
Last year another former president of the United States, Bill Clinton, was in the best of spirits and visited the Käfer tent in traditional costume. His wife, the former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, was there too.
Barack Obama had already announced his planned visit to the Wiesn in 2016: "I've never been to the Oktoberfest in Germany before, which means I have to come back again. It's probably more fun when I'm no longer president".
Read more about Barack Obama's performance at Bits & Pretzels here! (German)
