- By Supratik Das
- Sun, 16 Nov 2025 03:57 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a candid remark that has stirred fresh political debate, former First Lady Michelle Obama has said the United States is still not ready to elect a woman president. Her opinion came during an on-stage conversation with actor Tracee Ellis Ross at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, where she was promoting her new book The Look.
Responding to a question on whether American society has made enough space for women to reach the highest office, Obama said the results of the last election made the situation clear. “As we saw in this past election, sadly, we ain’t ready,” she remarked, noting that the country “still has a lot of growing up to do.”
She added that a section of American voters continues to resist the idea of women in top positions. “There are still a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman, and we saw it,” she said, referring to the defeats of former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 and Hillary Clinton in 2016.
What Michelle Obama Said
Michelle Obama once again dismissed speculation that she might enter presidential politics. “Don’t even look at me about running, because you all are lying. You’re not ready for a woman,” she said, making it clear she does not intend to contest for the Oval Office. She has consistently maintained this position since 2016, despite periodic calls from supporters urging her to run.
Her stature within the Democratic Party, however, remains significant. She was one of the most sought-after campaigners for Harris last year, appearing at major rallies across key battleground states. At an event in Michigan shortly before election day, Obama warned that Donald Trump posed a “grave threat” to women’s rights and urged voters not to “hand our fates over to the likes of Trump.”
NEW: Michelle Obama says she isn't going to run for president because she doesn't want to waste her time because America "ain't ready."
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 15, 2025
Tracee Ellis Ross: How do you feel about the fact that the First Lady is an archetype for wifedom and femininity?
Obama: I don't agree with… pic.twitter.com/e03xKMIOvE
Obama said Harris had demonstrated she was fully prepared for the presidency, but the electorate was not. “By every measure, she was ready. The real question was whether the country was ready, and the answer was no,” she said. Harris was elevated to the top of the Democratic ticket after Joe Biden withdrew, but failed to defeat Trump in the 2024 race.
Clinton’s historic campaign in 2016 and its eventual loss also factored into Obama’s argument that gender barriers remain deeply rooted in American politics.
Her comments have reignited discussion on why the US, despite being one of the world’s oldest democracies, has yet to elect a woman president. Several nations, including Italy and Japan, have recently seen women rise to their highest offices, a contrast Obama subtly highlighted during the conversation. While she did not comment on when the country might shift politically and culturally, Obama stressed the need for greater acceptance of women in leadership roles. For now, she said, the evidence suggests the United States is “still not there.”
