Executive Summary
- Former First Lady Michelle Obama asserted that the United States is “not ready” for a woman president.
- She attributed this view to the results of past elections and the sentiment that many men are unwilling to be led by a woman.
- The comments were made in the context of unsuccessful presidential bids by Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris.
- Obama reaffirmed her long-standing position that she will not run for president herself, despite remaining a prominent political voice.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama stated during a recent event that she believes the United States is not yet ready to elect a woman president, citing the outcomes of recent elections and societal attitudes as evidence for her assessment. Her remarks were made in the context of the unsuccessful presidential campaigns of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Kamala Harris.
While promoting her new book, Obama elaborated on her position. “As we saw in this past election, sadly, we ain’t ready,” she said. “We got a lot of growing up to do and there’s still … a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman and we saw it.”
Despite persistent speculation and calls from supporters for her to seek the office, Obama has consistently and publicly rejected any possibility of her own presidential run. In 2016, she stated definitively, “I will not run for president. No, nope, not going to do it.” This stance was maintained through the 2024 election cycle.
Although she will not run for office herself, Obama remains an active and influential voice in the Democratic Party. She campaigned for Kamala Harris in her race against President Donald Trump, warning voters at a rally that Trump posed a significant threat to the country and women’s rights. “Please, please do not hand our fates over to the likes of Trump, who knows nothing about us, who has shown deep contempt for us,” Obama said.
In summary, while actively campaigning for other Democratic candidates, the former first lady maintains that a significant societal shift is still required before a woman can be elected to the nation’s highest office, and she has no personal plans to be that candidate.