President Obama complained on Tuesday how hard it has been for him to work with Congress during his final foreign trip in the White House.
Obama held a joint press conference alongside Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in his first stop on the tour abroad.
A reporter asked Obama why he thought European governments resorted to austerity measures after the economic collapse in 2008 when his administration opted for a different approach.
"I think it's important to recognize in some ways my job was simpler because at least in the first two years I had majorities of my party controlling Congress," Obama said.
The president was referencing how Democrats controlled both the House and Senate when he was first elected in 2008. The Obama administration and the Democratic Congress at the beginning of his first term passed a $787 billion stimulus bill hoping to boost the economy amid the economic recession.
"Congress is hard to deal with," Obama continued. He then told reporters that he does not envy the job many European leaders had to deal with the consequences of the economic recession.
"Dealing with multiple parliaments and commissions and unions and this and that and the other. That's very complicated," Obama said of the difficulties presented to European leaders.
Obama will visit Greece, Peru, and Germany this week in his last foreign trip as president. His tour is expected to focus on globalization, international trade deals, and the recent election of President-elect Donald Trump.