Former first lady Michelle Obama recently stated that the United States isn’t ready for a woman president, referencing former Vice President Kamala Harris’ unsuccessful bid for the White House last year.
Speaking at an event in Brooklyn, New York, Obama responded to a question from actor Tracee Ellis Ross about whether enough “room” has been created for a woman president. “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 ‘cause you all are lying. You’re not ready for a woman.”
She elaborated, “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.”
The conversation with Ellis Ross was held to promote Obama’s new book, *The Look*, which explores her approach to fashion and politics during her and former President Barack Obama’s time in the White House. The discussion was posted online on Friday.
Michelle Obama remains one of the Democrats’ most effective and popular surrogates, a status that has fueled speculation and hope among supporters that she might run for president one day. However, she has repeatedly dismissed this idea.
“I will not run for president. No, nope, not going to do it,” she said in 2016, while still serving as first lady.
During last year’s campaign, Obama actively campaigned for Kamala Harris, raising concerns about the threat former President Donald Trump posed to the country, particularly to women’s health.
“Please, please do not hand our fates over to the likes of Trump, who knows nothing about us, who has shown deep contempt for us,” Obama said at a rally in Michigan just days before the election. “Because a vote for him is a vote against us, against our health, against our worth.”
At the same rally, she asked the crowd, “By every measure, [Harris] has demonstrated that she’s ready. … The real question is, as a country, are we ready for this moment?”
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*Photo credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images/File via CNN Newsource*
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