Former US President Barack Obama has sharply responded to suggestions about re-entering politics, joking that such a move would likely cost him his marriage.
Obama expressed that he no longer sees himself as a politician. He shared his thoughts during a conversation on a podcast hosted by political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen.
"First of all, I’m not a politician anymore and I can’t be," Obama stated.
Although Obama acknowledged that, technically, the law would permit him to run for certain offices, he made it clear that he had no desire to do so. He added, with a touch of humour, that personal considerations played a significant role in his decision.
"I believe in the Constitution, and I also believe in my marriage. Michelle would divorce me if I even tried to run again," he remarked, referring to his wife and former First Lady, Michelle Obama.
The former president described how his focus has shifted since leaving the White House. He explained that he and Michelle are now more committed to mentoring and inspiring the younger generation. "Michelle and I still have the capacity to inspire and motivate young people and invite them into this process," Obama shared.
He emphasised that any significant political change in the United States would have to come from younger people. "That change is going to come from the 20- and 30-year-olds. They’re the ones who will remake our institutions," Obama noted.
Obama also commented on a recent controversial post made on the Truth Social account of US President Donald Trump. The post included a video that briefly showed Obama and his wife with their faces placed on the bodies of monkeys.
Without directly naming Trump, Obama said most Americans "find this behaviour deeply troubling." He remarked that public discourse had grown more hostile and that the standards of respect previously expected in politics seemed to have declined.
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"There’s this sort of clown show that’s happening in social media and on television," Obama added, criticising the lack of decorum and respect for public office.
The post was met with widespread criticism across the political spectrum before being taken down. The White House later clarified that it had been posted in error by a staff member.