Former first lady and author Michelle Obama said she is “terrified” by what may come out of the 2024 election.
In an episode of the “On Purpose” podcast, which was posted to YouTube on Monday, host Jay Shetty asked Obama what keeps her up at night.
“What’s going to happen in this next election? I am terrified about what could possibly happen,” Obama said as part of her answer. “Because our leaders matter: who we select, who speaks for us, who holds that bully pulpit. It affects us in ways that sometimes I think people take for granted.”
Former First Lady Michelle Obama says fears about the 2024 election are some of what keeps her up at night:
“What's going to happen in this next election? I am terrified about what could possibly happen. Because our leaders matter.” pic.twitter.com/NcNZeyzP1G
— The Recount (@therecount) January 8, 2024
Obama added, “The fact that people think that government, ‘Eh,’ you know, ‘Does it really even do anything?’ And I’m like, ‘Oh my God, does government do everything for us.’ And we cannot take this democracy for granted.’ And sometimes I worry that we do.”
Recent media reports said Obama’s husband, former President Barack Obama, has expressed “deep concern” about former President Donald Trump‘s “political strength” and tried to course-correct President Joe Biden‘s re-election campaign amid flagging poll and approval numbers.
Michelle Obama herself has been floated as a possible candidate for the presidency, particularly if Biden drops out, but the former first lady has insisted that she has no intention of running.
Leading up to her comment on the election, Obama talked about “knowing too much” being married to the president “who knows everything about everything in the world” and wanting to tune it out.
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She listed wars in “too many regions,” the future of artificial intelligence, the environment, education, whether people will vote, and people being too engrossed in their phones as other issues that keep her awake at night.
During a different part of the discussion, focused on what offends the former first lady, Obama spoke about how she dislikes injustice, ego, greed, and racism. She condemned “unfairness” and bullies. Obama also decried “childish leadership” in which “somebody is just base, and vulgar, and cynical,” arguing that the negativity spreads to others.
“I think we are obligated to model, for those of us that have a platform, because it resonates. And I want to resonate good. I want to resonate reason, and compassion, and empathy,” Obama said. “That’s more important than my feelings because my feelings — I can take care of those.”
“This is the thing about being an other: You learn how to be excellent all the time because you can't be less than…Other people can be indicted a bunch of times and still run for office. Black men can't.”
— Former First Lady Michelle Obama reflects on the White House pic.twitter.com/jWgNrYAgXT
— The Recount (@therecount) January 8, 2024
At another point, Obama talked about “being an other” and how “you learn how to be excellent all the time because you can’t be less then.” In what appeared to be a reference to Trump, who is facing off against multiple indictments while running a third campaign for the presidency, Obama added that some people “can be indicted a bunch of times and still run for office” while “black men can’t.”
Obama also said she hopes her legacy is that she “helped more young people feel seen” and created “a stronger foundation for young people.”