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Michelle Obama has expressed her belief that the United States is still not prepared to elect a woman as president, particularly emphasizing the reluctance among male voters. She also doubts her own chances of overcoming this perceived bias if she were to consider a presidential bid.
In a candid statement, the former First Lady said, “That’s why I’m like, ‘Don’t even look at me about running, because you all are lying,’” highlighting her frustration. “You’re not ready for a woman. You are not. So don’t waste my time.”
These comments were made during a live event on November 5, where Obama was promoting her new book, “The Look,” in a conversation with actress Tracee Ellis Ross. She noted, “As we saw in this past election, sadly we ain’t ready,” referring to the recent political climate.
Her remarks aimed to underscore the outcome of the last presidential election, where Donald Trump won decisively against then-Vice President Kamala Harris, suggesting that the country still struggles with gender bias in its political sphere.
She was referring to Donald Trump defeating former Vice President Kamala Harris last November in quite resounding fashion.
Unlike his win over Hillary Clinton in 2016 — when he lost the popular vote but won the electoral college — Trump got nearly 2.3 million more votes than Harris in the 2024 election.
Michelle, 61, addressed the audience at the Brooklyn Academy of Music with disappointment over what she believes is the prevailing attitude among some in the country.
‘We got a lot of growing up to do, and there are still, sadly, a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman, and we saw it.’
Michelle Obama has said that Americans are not ready to elect a woman president, implying there is still widespread sexism among men
The former first lady, 61, has been repeatedly asked to run for president for well over a decade but she has resisted those calls, citing her then teenage daughters as an excuse in March 2016
Michelle has been talked about as a worthy presidential contender among liberals as far back as 2012, when her husband was in the middle of his eight years as the commander in chief.
Despite her fans in the Democratic party trying to recruit her to run every time primary season rolls around, she has consistently made it clear that she won’t heed the call.
She appeared on the TODAY Show in October 2018 and told anchor Savannah Guthrie that has never wanted to be a politician.
‘Nothing has changed in me. 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.
Less than a year before Obama left office, in March 2016, she said during South by Southwest that she ‘will not run for president’ because of her then teenage daughters, who are now in their twenties.
Obama himself said in an October 2016 radio interview that his wife ‘will never run for office’.
‘She is as talented and brilliant a person as there is, and I could not be prouder of her, but Michelle does not have the patience or the inclination to actually be a candidate herself,’ he said. ‘That’s one thing y’all can take to the bank.’
Michelle’s followers hoped she had changed her mind after delivering several highly-rated speeches attacking Trump while campaigning for Harris last year.
Michelle’s comments come after Donald Trump has now racked up two wins against prominent Democratic women, the first being Hillary Clinton in 2016
He then defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. And unlike his win over Clinton in 2016 — when he lost the popular vote but won the electoral college — Trump got nearly 2.3 million more votes than Harris
It appears she is just as steadfast now in her detestation of politics as she was several years ago.
Public polling does indicate that there does remain a significant barrier to women winning the highest office in the land.
Ahead of the 2024 election, American University released a poll that found that four in 10 Americans know someone who would not vote for a woman to become president.
‘A notable “youth paradox” exists, where younger voters, while generally supportive of women in office, are actually the least open to electing a female president,’ the poll’s authors wrote.