Former First Lady Michelle Obama is striking down hope from Democrats who view her as a potential strong presidential candidate.
Obama told her followers not to waste their time considering a possible presidential campaign by the former first lady, because the U.S. isn’t “ready” for a woman to be in the Oval Office.
“We ain’t ready. That’s why I’m like ‘don’t even look at me about running’ cause you all are lying. You ain’t ready for a woman. So don’t waste my time,” Obama said.
For years, Democrats have viewed Obama as a potential presidential candidate, given her outspoken character and having served as first lady for eight years under her husband, former President Barack Obama.
In fact, rumors had circulated for months last year that the former first lady would launch a campaign to challenge President Donald Trump.
Of course, nothing came to fruition, with the president eventually defeating former Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election.
According to Obama, the reason Harris lost was that America could not bring itself to elect a woman.
In the 2016 presidential election, Trump defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The former first lady’s comments came during a podcast episode at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Obama spoke with Actress Tracee Ellis Ross, who asked the prominent Democrat if her role as first lady affected “the room that we’ve made for a woman to be president,” as NBC News reported.
Obama then controversially claimed that men can’t handle being governed by a woman.
“You know, we got a lot of growing up to do, and there’s still, sadly, a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman, and we saw it,” she said.
Many Democrats appear to believe that if Obama chose to run in 2024 or launches a surprise political campaign in the future, she would win.
Author Marianne Williamson reacted to the former first lady’s latest comments, saying that if she chose to run against Trump last year, she would’ve won.
I think if she had run she would’ve won. And no one runs for office with a guarantee they’ll win. People should run for office because they think there is value for the country in their doing so,” Williamson said.
Williamson’s comments were rebutted by some people, who claimed that if it’s difficult for a White woman to be elected to the White House, it’s more challenging for a “woman of color.”
“I doubt a white women would win an election in the US, let alone a women of color. Why would she waste her time and energy doing something when she knows she won’t benefit?” one person said.
In 2024, Obama and her husband endorsed Harris in a joint statement, describing the former vice president as “one of the best decisions” that former President Joe Biden made.
“She has the vision, the character, and the strength that this critical moment demands,” the Obamas said at the time.
