'Lot Of Growing Up To Do': Michelle Obama Says US 'Not Ready' For A Woman President

Last Updated:November 16, 2025, 18:18 IST

Michelle Obama has long been one of the Democratic Party’s most popular and effective surrogates, prompting speculation among supporters that she might run for president herself

Former US First Lady Michelle Obama. (AFP file photo)

Former First Lady Michelle Obama has said that the United States is still not ready for a woman president, citing the unsuccessful bid of former Vice President Kamala Harris as an example.

Speaking at a recent event in Brooklyn, New York, to promote her new book, ‘The Look,’ which explores her approach to fashion and politics during her time in the White House, Obama responded to a question from actor Tracee Ellis Ross on whether the country had created enough space for a female leader.

“As we saw in this past election, sadly, we ain’t ready," Obama said. She added, “That’s why I’m like, don’t even look at me about running ‘cause you all are lying. You’re not ready for a woman. 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."

Obama has long been one of the Democratic Party’s most popular and effective surrogates, prompting speculation among supporters that she might run for president herself. She has consistently dismissed such talk, telling audiences in 2016, “I will not run for president. No, nope, not going to do it."

During her campaign support for Harris last year, Obama warned voters of the potential dangers posed by Donald Trump, particularly regarding women’s rights and health.

At a rally in Michigan, she had urged citizens not to “hand our fates over to the likes of Trump, who knows nothing about us and has shown deep contempt for us… A vote for him is a vote against us, against our health, against our worth."

(With inputs from CNN)

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