Michelle Obama says US ‘not ready for a woman’ in the Oval Office

Former first lady Michelle Obama on Friday said the country is “not ready” to see a woman running the White House.

“As we saw in this past election, sadly, we ain’t ready,” Obama told a crowd of women at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. 

“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,” she added. 

Her conversation with actor Tracee Ellis Ross centered on her new book, “The Look.”

“During our family’s time in the White House, the way I looked was constantly being dissected — what I wore, how my hair was styled. For a while now, I’ve been wanting to reclaim more of that story, to share it in my own way,” Obama wrote in a Facebook post promoting her book. 

“I’m thankful to be at a stage in life where I feel comfortable expressing myself freely — wearing what I love and doing what feels true to me. And I’m excited to share some of what I’ve learned along the way,” she added. 

In the book, Obama details her journey with fashion over the course of her life and highlights time spent in the White House as the first Black woman to serve as first lady. 

She highlights how women in the political limelight are often not judged for their leadership abilities, but rather for their physical appearance.

“You know, we’ve 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,” Obama said on Friday. 

Her comments follow former Vice President Harris’ election loss to President Trump in 2024.