Obama Draws Only 5,000 in Berlin Speech, Down From 200,000 in 2008

 

President Barack Obama returned to Berlin on Wednesday — but he found a very different reception than when he visited the German capital five years ago.

Then, candidate Obama greeted an estimated 200,000 people in July 2008 who turned out to hear him speak in front of Berlin's Tiergarten, one of the nation's most notable landmarks, The Atlantic reports.

German officials attacked Obama for initially wanting to stage his speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate — while Republicans in the United States winced at the thought of a presidential hopeful being adored on the international stage.

But on Wednesday, only 5,000 to 6,000 people turned out to hear Obama speak — and all of them were invited guests, the Atlantic reports.

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