President Barack Obama said Friday he’s confident the United Kingdom will have an “orderly transition” out of the European Union and that he spoke with British Prime Minister David Cameron earlier in the day.
“Based on our conversation, I’m confident that the UK is committed to an orderly transition out of the EU,” Obama said during remarks at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.
He also said he spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the British vote.
Earlier Friday, President Obama said the U.S. respects the decision of United Kingdom voters for the country to leave the European Union.
“The people of the United Kingdom have spoken, and we respect their decision,” Obama said in a statement, his first remarks since the results of the Brexit referendum were announced. “The special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is enduring, and the United Kingdom’s membership in NATO remains a vital cornerstone of U.S. foreign, security, and economic policy.”