Obama Defends His Antiterror Strategy in Arguments Aimed at His Successor

President draws contrast between his ideas and those of Donald Trump

President Barack Obama spoke about his counterterrorism record Tuesday, at MacDill Air Force Base. He spoke to active duty troops for his last speech on national security speech as Commander-In-Chief. Photo: Getty

President Barack Obama on Tuesday defended his strategy for combating terrorism, despite the emergence on his watch of the Islamic State group and the expansion of the conflict in Syria.

Mr. Obama, in a national-security speech delivered just weeks before he leaves the White House, repeatedly drew a contrast between his ideas and those of Republican President-elect Donald Trump while making a case for why his successor should adhere to his approach, which was shaped by his early decision to scale back America’s military presence...