President Obama convinces supporters to cheer for President-elect Trump during farewell speech

President Barack Obama gave a passionate and lofty speech on Tuesday night in his farewell address to the nation.

In one of the earliest noteworthy moments in the nearly hour-long speech, the president managed to convince a room full of thousands of his supporters to cheer the incoming presidency of Donald Trump.

"In ten days, the world will witness a hallmark of our democracy," Obama said -- referencing Trump's coming inauguration and inspiring an initial round of boos from the audience.

But the outgoing president pivoted quickly and convinced the audience assembled to cheer for the incoming president and his administration, even though many within his camp have vowed to dismantle Obama's legacy as he championed the "the peaceful transfer of power from one freely-elected president to the next."

The juxtaposition turned the tone of the crowd, and led Obama into an address about the importance of members of opposing parties supporting each other in order to support the American people.

"I committed to President-Elect Trump that my administration would ensure the smoothest possible transition, just as President Bush did for me," he continued. "Because it's up to all of us to make sure our government can help us meet the many challenges we still face."

The crowd then clapped and cheered in agreement with the president.

While Obama avoided directly criticizing his opponent, who just this week noted that repealing the president's signature health care law would be his first focus as president, he did discuss the importance of respecting common decency -- an quality many ardent Obama supporters believe Trump may lack.

SEE MORE: Full transcript: President Obama's final 'farewell' speech to the nation

"[I]t's up to all of us to make sure our government can help us meet the many challenges we still face," he said.

"Our youth and drive, our diversity and openness, our boundless capacity for risk and reinvention mean that the future should be ours."

"But that potential will be realized only if our democracy works," he continued. "Only if our politics reflects the decency of the our people. Only if all of us, regardless of our party affiliation or particular interest, help restore the sense of common purpose that we so badly need right now."