At a Glance
- Michelle Obama says the U.S. is not yet ready for a female president.
- She reflects on media scrutiny during the 2008 campaign and her own public role.
- The interview aired on the Jan. 21, 2025 episode of Call Her Daddy.
Why it matters: The former first lady’s remarks highlight ongoing gender bias and the debate over women’s leadership in America.
Michelle Obama opened up on Call Her Daddy about whether she believes the U.S. is ready for a female president. The former first lady discussed a wide range of topics during her interview with Alex Cooper on the Jan. 21, 2025 episode of the podcast, including the scrutiny she faced while in the public eye and the media’s focus on her appearance during Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.
Interview Overview
During the conversation, Obama expanded on comments she made last November about whether she would ever consider running for president herself and what that says about the country’s readiness for a woman in the Oval Office.
> “As we saw in this past election, sadly, we ain’t ready,” Obama said. “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 previously touched on the subject during a conversation with actor Tracee Ellis Ross for a live taping of her podcast, IMO, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on Nov. 5, 2025.
Ross asked Obama whether serving as first lady had affected “the room that we’ve made for a woman to be president.”
> “You know, we got a lot of growing up to do,” Obama said. “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.”
Key Takeaways
- Readiness: Obama emphasizes that many Americans still feel uncomfortable with the idea of a woman president.
- Media Focus: She points to the lasting impact of media attention on her appearance during the 2008 campaign.
- Future Leadership: Despite the challenges, she believes the country is moving in the right direction.
Background and Public Scrutiny
Obama elaborated further with Cooper:
> “We’ve come a long way,” she said. “Whether people really feel yet that they can follow a woman as president… we’d be silly to think there aren’t some gut… I don’t know, like we’re not even analyzing what those feelings are about because we’re trying to pretend it’s all better.”
She continued:
> “How could it be all better?” she said. “We’ve been feeding off this bone for so long, it doesn’t just go away. It takes time. But we’re moving. We are moving in that direction.”
Obama also highlighted the reality that “there are men out there who would not vote for a woman.” She urged a candid conversation about these attitudes.
> “Let’s just be real about it and put that on the table and talk about what that’s about.”
She added that the country has had two “really qualified female candidates” and that it is time to discuss their qualifications openly.
> “We have qualified women. They’re not perfect, they don’t cross every T and dot every I, there’s a falling-shortness that happens,” she said. “But why can’t we talk about that? Why are we pretending that didn’t just happen?”
Thoughts on Running for President
Cooper noted that some critics have argued that disliking certain candidates does not necessarily mean the country isn’t ready for a woman president. Obama responded:
> “We’re still growing,” she said. “I think it’s going to happen. Are we ready now? I don’t know. Let’s prove us wrong. I would love that.”
When Cooper raised a hypothetical scenario in which President Donald Trump changes the law and runs for a third term, Obama answered:
> “I hope not,” she said. “I would actively work against that. I would be at home working against it.”
She also stressed the need for new vision:
> “I do believe in the need for new vision,” she added. “This is a hard job, and it requires new energy, new vision all the time, new ways of looking at the world. So, I do think that eight years is enough.”
Timeline of Recent Appearances
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Jan. 21, 2025 | Interview on Call Her Daddy with Alex Cooper |
| Nov. 5, 2025 | Live taping of IMO with Tracee Ellis Ross at Brooklyn Academy of Music |
| Jan. 17, 2025 | Barack Obama posts a birthday message for Michelle Obama’s 62nd birthday |
Public Reaction and Future Outlook
The former first lady’s candid remarks have sparked discussion across social media and political circles. Some commentators applaud her honesty, while others argue that her statements may oversimplify the complex dynamics of gender and politics. The conversation continues as the nation debates the next generation of leaders.
Key Takeaways for Readers
- Michelle Obama believes America is not yet fully prepared for a female president.
- She highlights lingering gender bias and media scrutiny from her time as first lady.
- Despite the challenges, she expresses optimism that the country is moving toward greater acceptance of women in top leadership roles.
The interview underscores the ongoing conversation about women’s leadership and the broader cultural shifts needed to support a future female president.
