Obama to hold Friday news conference President Barack Obama says he will hold a news conference at the White House on Friday. Obama will answer reporters' questions in the midst of a terror alert that led the government to close nearly two dozen embassies and consulates in the Middle East and North Africa. And just day.this week, Obama canceled a one-on-one summit next month in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in part because of Russia's decision to grant asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden. The news conference also comes a day before Obama leaves Washington for a nine-day vacation on Martha's Vineyard, Mass. Obama made the announcement Thursday as he wrapped up an Oval Office meeting with the prime minister of Greece.