&gt; <i>No, that&#x27;s now how the system works in the US. He has nothing left to run for; he&#x27;s term limited and leaving the highest office in the country.</i><p>Outgoing Presidents still work towards the future electability of other members of their party over the alternatives - in Obama&#x27;s case, Clinton or Sanders over the Republicans. That&#x27;s part of the opportunism, along with, yes, saving the more controversial unilateral actions for when they no longer need to worry about their own re-election or cooperation from Congress.