Michelle Obama Responds To Running For President In 2028
Michelle Obama has once again shut down the persistent fantasies from the Left about a potential presidential run — and this time, her answer was even more blunt than usual. Speaking at the Brooklyn Academy of Music during a Nov. 5 discussion with actress Tracee Ellis Ross, the former first lady made it clear she believes the United States “ain’t ready” to elect a woman president — including herself.
At 61, Michelle Obama has spent years as the Democratic Party’s favorite political daydream, with activists repeatedly trying to draft her into national politics despite her consistent refusals. The latest resurgence came amid “Michelle 2028” chatter on social media and “No Kings” demonstrations where supporters waved signs urging her to jump in. But even in front of a friendly crowd, Obama seemed almost frustrated that the speculation continues.
She argued that Americans proved in the 2024 election — which President Donald J. Trump decisively won over Kamala Harris — that the nation is not prepared to elect a woman commander-in-chief. “Well, as we saw in this past election, sadly, we ain’t ready,” she said, a reference Democrats often make despite the obvious reality that more voters simply preferred Trump’s policies and leadership.
“That’s why I’m like, ‘Don’t even look at me about running, ‘cause you all are lying,’” she told the audience, doubling down with: “You’re not ready for a woman. You are not. So don’t waste my time.”
She continued by insisting, “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.”
Despite the applause from the crowd, Michelle Obama’s position hasn’t changed in over a decade. She has repeatedly distanced herself from political life, rejecting the idea of running for office long before President Barack Obama left the White House.
During a 2018 interview on Today for the International Day of the Girl, she was unequivocal. When Savannah Guthrie asked whether she would ever pursue politics, Obama replied, “Absolutely not,” adding, “I’ve 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.”
Her insistence goes back even further. In 2016 at South by Southwest, moderated by Queen Latifah, she declared she “will not run for president,” citing a desire to focus on her daughters Sasha and Malia, who were teenagers at the time.
Her well-publicized speeches attacking then-Republican nominee Trump that same year fueled a new wave of speculation, but she maintained her refusal. Barack Obama himself reinforced the point that fall on SiriusXM.
“[Michelle] will never run for office,” he said on Sway in the Morning. “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. That’s one thing y’all can take to the bank.”
More recently, she told People: “My kids are grown and launched, they are healthy and happy. My husband is doing just fine. We are the former president and first lady, and so I feel like this is the first time in my life that when I say and do something, here in this interview, writing this book, these are my choices. That is freeing.”
For Democrats hoping she might replace their struggling bench heading into 2028, Michelle Obama’s latest remarks may be the clearest signal yet: she has no intention of entering politics — no matter how loudly the base begs.