He went on to outline three further threats to American democracy; economic inequality, racial divisions and the retreat of different segments of society into “bubbles”, where opinions are not based on “some common baseline of facts”.

“All of us have more work to do [to achieve a post-racial America],” he said, challenging people to run for office themselves and make the changes they want to see.

“After all, if every economic issue is framed as a struggle between a hardworking white middle class and undeserving minorities, then workers of all shades will be left fighting for scraps while the wealthy withdraw further into their private enclaves.

“If we decline to invest in the children of immigrants, just because they don’t look like us, we diminish the prospects of our own children – because those brown kids will represent a larger share of America’s workforce.”

President Obama’s emotional farewell speech: it’s time to defend your democracy