President Obama's end-of-the-year news conference

Before he departs for San Bernardino to meet privately with the families of victims of the massacre there, President Obama is holding an end-of-the-year news conference at the White House on Friday afternoon. He’s expected to be asked about gun violence, his strategy to defeat Islamic State, the campaign to succeed him and a number of other issues.

The news conference is the last chance for reporters to question Obama before he spends the last two weeks of the year on vacation with his family in Hawaii. Shortly after he returns, he’ll embark on a campaign of sorts to sell his message for 2016 ahead of what will be his last State of the Union address, set for Jan. 12.

Watch Obama's live remarks below.