"Don't waste my time" - Michelle Obama makes feelings clear when asked if women can be President of the United States

Former First Lady Michelle Obama shared her thoughts when asked if a woman can be the President of the United States. She believed the nation needs to grow up a lot more before having that conversation.

In footage shared on November 14, Michelle Obama was in conversation with Tracee Ellis Ross at the Brooklyn Academy of Music while promoting her latest book, The Look. During the conversation, the former First Lady was asked about the impact of a woman potentially being President of the United States one day. She said:

"As we saw in this past election, sadly, we ain’t ready. That’s why I’m like, don’t even look at me about running, because you all are lying. You’re not ready for a woman. You are not. So don't waste my time. We got a lot of growing up to do, and there are still, sadly, a lot of men who feel like they cannot be led by a woman, and we saw it. I think we still have growing to do in that regard."

No woman has even been the President of the United States so far. However, two of the last three Democratic nominees have been women, although both were beaten in the elections by Donald Trump. In 2016, Bill Clinton's wife and former First Lady, Hillary Clinton, lost to Trump, which marked the latter's first term as President.

In 2020, Trump was beaten by Joe Biden, with Kamala Harris taking over as Vice President. However, the Republican president beat Harris in the 2024 Presidential elections to make it to the White House once again.

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Michelle Obama comments on the First Lady being an epitome of "wifedom and femininity" in the United States

2024 Democratic National Convention: Day 2 - Source: Getty

During the aforementioned event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Tracee Ellis Ross asked Michelle Obama about the popular archetype that the First Lady of the United States is usually put into. She asked:

"You stepped into a role that carried a preconceived idea of femininity and wifedom that was founded on the landmines of racism and misogyny. What the First Lady wears is one of the main ways which you've already said that a First Lady has talked about it comes with so much historical expectation. How do you feel about the fact that the First Lady is an archetype for wifedom and femininity?"

In response, Obama said that she does not believe in this idea, explaining:

"Yeah, I don't agree with that. It's, you know, it, it is a completely throwback on, it's a definition that has no current status in how women actually show up in the world today."

Michelle Obama was First Lady between 2008 and 2016, when her husband Barack Obama was the President. Over the years, Obama has often been asked if she wishes to run for President. She has always maintained a firm no in her answer. Speaking to Kylie Kelce on her podcast in March this year, the former First Lady said her running for the office is "never going to happen."

Despite mentioning that the United States has to grow up before being ready for a woman president, Michelle Obama also said that progress can be made if women take up the power.

"You know, we can see how progress can be made and things can be snatched back when it comes to us owning our power as women," she told Ross.

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Michelle Obama's latest book, The Look, was released on November 4 and focused on her personal style evolution over the years. It is available in stores and online for purchase.

Edited by Pratyasha Sarkar