White House press secretary Josh Earnest says President-elect Donald Trump will have a high standard to live up to on diplomacy.

“Hopefully President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE, when he takes office, will take it from here. But that will be up to him,” Earnest told CNN’s “New Day” on Thursday.

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“He will certainly have a high standard to live to. The American people have certainly entrusted [Trump] with preserving and advancing that relationship for the next four years.”

Earnest touted President Obama's diplomacy with Germany, saying his work enhanced the nation’s economy and national security. Obama is in Germany completing his final international trip as president.

“Certainly the United States and Germany are close partners when it comes to intelligence. That’s certainly enhanced the security of the homeland and Germany as well," Earnest said.

“There are strong ties between businesses in the United States and businesses in Germany. That has expanded the prosperity of both our countries and the workers in both our countries.”

Earnest said Obama will work hard to prepare Trump for the White House, even though he backed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot Poll: 51 percent of voters want to abolish the electoral college MORE and frequently campaigned against Trump.

“Well, of course the election didn’t turn out the way we hoped that it would. But what is also true is the president has institutional responsibilities to try to advance the interests of the American people in every single possible way that he can.”

Obama is meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday. The pair will discuss ongoing conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, as well as efforts to combat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.