In a candid discussion about gender and politics, former First Lady Michelle Obama said Americans, particularly men, are still not prepared to elect a woman as president.
Speaking at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on November 5, she made it clear she has no plans to run herself.
“That’s why I’m like, ‘Don’t even look at me about running, because y’all are lying,’” Obama said during a live conversation with actress Tracee Ellis Ross about her new book, The Look.
“You’re not ready for a woman. You are not. So don’t waste my time.”
Reflections on the 2024 Election
Michelle was referring to last year’s election, in which Donald Trump defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris by nearly 2.3 million votes.
Unlike his 2016 win over Hillary Clinton, which relied on the electoral college despite losing the popular vote, Trump’s 2024 victory was a clear popular vote success.
“We got a lot of growing up to do,” Obama said, addressing the audience. “There are still, sadly, a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman, and we saw it.”
A Long-Standing Reluctance to Enter Politics
Michelle Obama has been floated as a potential Democratic presidential candidate ever since her husband’s presidency began in 2009.
Despite repeated calls from fans and party leaders, she has consistently refused to run, insisting that politics is not her chosen path.
“I want to serve… There are so many ways to make an impact.
Politics is not my thing. It’s as simple as that,” she said during an October 2018 appearance on the TODAY Show.
Earlier, in March 2016, she explained that her decision was also influenced by her teenage daughters at the time.
Barack Obama himself has echoed this sentiment, telling a radio host in October 2016, “Michelle does not have the patience or the inclination to actually be a candidate herself. That’s one thing y’all can take to the bank.”
Public Hope Versus Personal Choice
Despite high-profile speeches targeting Trump and campaigning for Harris in 2024, Michelle remains firm in her decision to avoid the political spotlight.
Fans and supporters may have hoped she would reconsider, but she appears steadfast in her distaste for running for office herself.
“I have never wanted to be a politician. Nothing has changed in me,” she emphasized.
The Broader Barrier for Women in Politics
Obama’s remarks also reflect a broader trend in U.S. politics. Public polling suggests that a significant portion of Americans may still hesitate to support a female president.
An American University poll released ahead of the 2024 election found that four in ten Americans knew someone who would not vote for a woman for the nation’s highest office.
Interestingly, the study also highlighted a “youth paradox,” where younger voters, despite generally supporting women in leadership roles, are among the least open to electing a female president.
Michelle’s words underscore both the persistent challenges women face in politics and her personal decision to channel her influence outside the ballot box.