[h=1]Michelle Obama claims she has grown closer to her husband during his time in office and insists her door is always open to Melania in emotional goodbye interview with Oprah - but will it be her last ever in the White House?[/h]
PUBLISHED: 01:37, 20 December 2016 | UPDATED: 02:44, 20 December 2016
- The First Lady's final interview, taped at the White House, aired Monday night
- Michelle Obama sat down with Oprah Winfrey and discussed the past eight years
- Said she wouldn't run for office because she didn't want to do that to her children
- Told Winfrey her family's White House years have made her closer to Barack
- The president did a cameo and praised Michelle's 'masterful work' as first lady
PUBLISHED: 01:37, 20 December 2016 | UPDATED: 02:44, 20 December 2016
Michelle Obama is saying goodbye to the White House for good, she told Oprah Winfrey during her final interview.
The First Lady sat down with Oprah at the White House last week to discuss the past eight years and share her hopes for the country going forward. In the segment, which aired Monday night on CBS, she spoke about raising her two young daughters in the public eye, and swore she had no intention of running for office.
Michelle told Oprah that she didn't want to have Sasha and Malia, now 15 and 18, spend 16 years with a parent as president. She moved into the White House thinking the experience would either make or break her daughters, who were 7 and 10 at the time.
The first lady also pledged to help her successor, Melania Trump, and to answer any questions Melania might have. Michelle told Melania that her door will remain open if the new first lady has any questions once she settles in her new role - a courtesy Laura Bush also extended to Michelle eight years ago.
The First Lady sat down with Oprah at the White House last week to discuss the past eight years and share her hopes for the country going forward. In the segment, which aired Monday night on CBS, she spoke about raising her two young daughters in the public eye, and swore she had no intention of running for office.
Michelle told Oprah that she didn't want to have Sasha and Malia, now 15 and 18, spend 16 years with a parent as president. She moved into the White House thinking the experience would either make or break her daughters, who were 7 and 10 at the time.
The first lady also pledged to help her successor, Melania Trump, and to answer any questions Melania might have. Michelle told Melania that her door will remain open if the new first lady has any questions once she settles in her new role - a courtesy Laura Bush also extended to Michelle eight years ago.
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Michelle Obama sat down with Oprah Winfrey at the White House for her final interview as first lady, which aired Monday night. The segment was taped last week
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Barack Obama stepped in for a brief cameo and praised his wife's legacy as first lady, saying she had surpassed expectations with her 'masterful work'
Oprah asked Michelle if she would ever run for office, saying everyone had asked her to relay the question. Michelle replied with a straight no.
'I don't make stuff up. I'm not coy. I've proven that. I'm pretty direct. If I were interested in it, I'd say it. I don't believe in playing games. It's not something I would do,' the first lady said.
'But it also speaks to the fact that people don't really understand how hard this is. And it's not something that you cavalierly just sort of ask a family to do again.'
Oprah said that eight years was enough, prompting Michelle to imagine what 16 years would be like. 'I wouldn't do that to my kids,' she said.
'Because what people don't understand is that you run - their lives stop at any age. I mean, the next family that comes in here, every person in that family, every child, every grandchild, their lives will be turned upside down in a way that no American really understands,' Michelle added.
'And it's not for us to complain about it. So you don't hear complaints. But it is a -- a truth, an actuality, that there is a weight to it.'
Michelle told Oprah the Democratic Party hadn't asked her to run for any office and that she wasn't having conversations on the matter.
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Michelle told Oprah she had no intention of running for office because she doesn't want to put her daughters, Sasha and Malia, through more years in the public eye at the White House
As for Melania, Michelle said she hadn't offered her any advice during their meeting at the White House in November, because it was too early. She called the meeting 'very pleasant' - but thought Melania probably didn't know what questions to ask yet.
'You really don't know what you don't know until you're here,' Michelle said. 'So I - the door is open, as I've told her, and as Laura Bush told me, you know, and as other First Ladies told me.'
Michelle however did not hold back when it came to discuss her feelings about the past presidential election, which saw Donald Trump clutch a shocking victory against Hillary Clinton - for whom both Barack and Michelle had strongly campaigned.
'This past election was challenging for me as a citizen. To watch and experience. It was painful,' Michelle said.
She told Oprah she went to bed early on Election Night feeling like she knew what the results would be - and her thoughts were confirmed the next morning when she looked at her phone.
Michelle discussed a speech she gave in New Hampshire during the campaign, in which she blasted Donald's comments that celebrities can 'grab women by the p***y'.
'My response, you know, in light of what I was seeing from my female staff, what I was hearing from my daughters, their reaction to it, for me required a different kind of response,' she told Oprah.
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Oprah asked Michelle how she felt when some of her critics labeled her an 'angry black woman'. Michelle said she realized the racist comments weren't actually about her
Being a 'grown-up', Michelle said, helped her dealing with critics as she settled in the White House.
'But just being straight up grown-up helps because, you know, over the course of a professional career, and let us not forget, I just didn't wake up first lady. I mean, I went to law school. I practiced law. I worked for the City. I ran a non-profit. I was an executive at a hospital. I've been in the world. I've worked in every sector,' she said.
'And you don't do that without coming up against some stuff. You know? Having your feelings hurt. Having people say things that aren't true, you know. And it's not just about race. I mean, you know, it's just life hits you. So over the course of living, you learn how to protect yourself in it.'
The first lady also discussed being labeled an 'angry black woman' by some of her critics.
'That was one of those sort of things where you think, "Dang, you don't even know me." You just sort of feel like, "Wow, where did that come from?" '
Then, Michelle said she realized the racist comments weren't about her, but about the people who wrote them.
'And then I thought, okay, well, let me live my life out loud so that people can then see and then judge for themselves,' she added.
Michelle and Oprah looked back on the time Barack took office, with Michelle saying: 'We were dealing with our financial collapse that was unprecedented. And most people don't remember that. The country was crumbling.'
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The first lady said she would help Melania Trump in any way she can as her successor settles in the White House, just like Laura Bush did for her
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Michelle (pictured with Melania at the White House in November) said she hadn't given Melania any advice yet, because it was too early during their meeting
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The first lady said her predecessor Laura Bush (pictured welcoming Michelle to the White House in 2008) had been nothing but gracious to her - a behavior she intends to replicate
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Michelle said the president (pictured during his cameo) had managed to give the nation a renewed sense of hope, adding that she could feel the difference now
The first lady said she and her husband had become closer during their eight years at the White House. During the presidency, she said, a spouse is the only person who really knows about the good and bad things going on.
Barack proved how close he is to his wife by stopping by in a short cameo and praising Michelle's legacy as first lady.
'We all knew she was brilliant and cute. And strong and a great mom. But I think the way in which she blended purpose and policy with fun so that she was able to reach beyond Washington on her health care initiatives, on her military family work, was masterful,' the president told Oprah.
The first lady, reflecting on her own work, said she felt like she had moved the needle on childhood obesity and healthy eating - one of the main causes she pursued during her White House years.
+10
Being a 'grown-up', Michelle said, helped her dealing with critics as she settled in the White House. Having worked in various sectors, she said, gave her a thicker skin
+10
Michelle said she had worked hard to ensure that Sasha and Malia (pictured with their parents last week) felt normal even while growing up at the White House
Looking back on her husband's administration, Michelle said she thought he had managed to give the nation a sense of hope.
'Because we feel the difference now. See, now we're feeling what not having hope feels like. You know? Hope is necessary. It's a necessary concept,' she said. 'And Barack didn't just talk about hope because he thought it was just a nice slogan to get votes. I mean, he and I and so many believe that if you - what else do you have if you don't have hope?
Michelle said she looked forward to regaining some anonymity. Her mother, who moved into the White House with the family eight years ago, is headed back to Chicago and will visit from time to time.
She and Oprah even made plans to go 'glamping' - a more glamorous version of camping.
Oprah ended the interview by asking Michelle what her prayer was for the country, to which Michelle said she was praying for hope.
'My desire for this country is that we remain hopeful and that -- and that we find a place in our hearts to love each other. It's really simple, you know? Just opening up our hearts to others. Making room.'
'Because what people don't understand is that you run - their lives stop at any age. I mean, the next family that comes in here, every person in that family, every child, every grandchild, their lives will be turned upside down in a way that no American really understands,' Michelle added.
'And it's not for us to complain about it. So you don't hear complaints. But it is a -- a truth, an actuality, that there is a weight to it.'
Michelle told Oprah the Democratic Party hadn't asked her to run for any office and that she wasn't having conversations on the matter.
+10
Michelle told Oprah she had no intention of running for office because she doesn't want to put her daughters, Sasha and Malia, through more years in the public eye at the White House
As for Melania, Michelle said she hadn't offered her any advice during their meeting at the White House in November, because it was too early. She called the meeting 'very pleasant' - but thought Melania probably didn't know what questions to ask yet.
'You really don't know what you don't know until you're here,' Michelle said. 'So I - the door is open, as I've told her, and as Laura Bush told me, you know, and as other First Ladies told me.'
Michelle however did not hold back when it came to discuss her feelings about the past presidential election, which saw Donald Trump clutch a shocking victory against Hillary Clinton - for whom both Barack and Michelle had strongly campaigned.
'This past election was challenging for me as a citizen. To watch and experience. It was painful,' Michelle said.
She told Oprah she went to bed early on Election Night feeling like she knew what the results would be - and her thoughts were confirmed the next morning when she looked at her phone.
Michelle discussed a speech she gave in New Hampshire during the campaign, in which she blasted Donald's comments that celebrities can 'grab women by the p***y'.
'My response, you know, in light of what I was seeing from my female staff, what I was hearing from my daughters, their reaction to it, for me required a different kind of response,' she told Oprah.
+10
Oprah asked Michelle how she felt when some of her critics labeled her an 'angry black woman'. Michelle said she realized the racist comments weren't actually about her
Being a 'grown-up', Michelle said, helped her dealing with critics as she settled in the White House.
'But just being straight up grown-up helps because, you know, over the course of a professional career, and let us not forget, I just didn't wake up first lady. I mean, I went to law school. I practiced law. I worked for the City. I ran a non-profit. I was an executive at a hospital. I've been in the world. I've worked in every sector,' she said.
'And you don't do that without coming up against some stuff. You know? Having your feelings hurt. Having people say things that aren't true, you know. And it's not just about race. I mean, you know, it's just life hits you. So over the course of living, you learn how to protect yourself in it.'
The first lady also discussed being labeled an 'angry black woman' by some of her critics.
'That was one of those sort of things where you think, "Dang, you don't even know me." You just sort of feel like, "Wow, where did that come from?" '
Then, Michelle said she realized the racist comments weren't about her, but about the people who wrote them.
'And then I thought, okay, well, let me live my life out loud so that people can then see and then judge for themselves,' she added.
Michelle and Oprah looked back on the time Barack took office, with Michelle saying: 'We were dealing with our financial collapse that was unprecedented. And most people don't remember that. The country was crumbling.'
+10
The first lady said she would help Melania Trump in any way she can as her successor settles in the White House, just like Laura Bush did for her
+10
Michelle (pictured with Melania at the White House in November) said she hadn't given Melania any advice yet, because it was too early during their meeting
+10
The first lady said her predecessor Laura Bush (pictured welcoming Michelle to the White House in 2008) had been nothing but gracious to her - a behavior she intends to replicate
+10
Michelle said the president (pictured during his cameo) had managed to give the nation a renewed sense of hope, adding that she could feel the difference now
The first lady said she and her husband had become closer during their eight years at the White House. During the presidency, she said, a spouse is the only person who really knows about the good and bad things going on.
Barack proved how close he is to his wife by stopping by in a short cameo and praising Michelle's legacy as first lady.
'We all knew she was brilliant and cute. And strong and a great mom. But I think the way in which she blended purpose and policy with fun so that she was able to reach beyond Washington on her health care initiatives, on her military family work, was masterful,' the president told Oprah.
The first lady, reflecting on her own work, said she felt like she had moved the needle on childhood obesity and healthy eating - one of the main causes she pursued during her White House years.
+10
Being a 'grown-up', Michelle said, helped her dealing with critics as she settled in the White House. Having worked in various sectors, she said, gave her a thicker skin
+10
Michelle said she had worked hard to ensure that Sasha and Malia (pictured with their parents last week) felt normal even while growing up at the White House
Looking back on her husband's administration, Michelle said she thought he had managed to give the nation a sense of hope.
'Because we feel the difference now. See, now we're feeling what not having hope feels like. You know? Hope is necessary. It's a necessary concept,' she said. 'And Barack didn't just talk about hope because he thought it was just a nice slogan to get votes. I mean, he and I and so many believe that if you - what else do you have if you don't have hope?
Michelle said she looked forward to regaining some anonymity. Her mother, who moved into the White House with the family eight years ago, is headed back to Chicago and will visit from time to time.
She and Oprah even made plans to go 'glamping' - a more glamorous version of camping.
Oprah ended the interview by asking Michelle what her prayer was for the country, to which Michelle said she was praying for hope.
'My desire for this country is that we remain hopeful and that -- and that we find a place in our hearts to love each other. It's really simple, you know? Just opening up our hearts to others. Making room.'
Obama`s continue to divide this country on a daily basis.
In her interview last night she says there is NO HOPE
You don`t talk like that.....Be a professional you scumbag lady.
Say it was a nice 8 year run and now it`s time too go.
And i wish the new administration luck.
NO HOPE??? Really???
The hate the fucking Obama`s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In her interview last night she says there is NO HOPE
You don`t talk like that.....Be a professional you scumbag lady.
Say it was a nice 8 year run and now it`s time too go.
And i wish the new administration luck.
NO HOPE??? Really???
The hate the fucking Obama`s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"The first lady said she would help Melania Trump in any way she can as her successor settles in the White House, just like Laura Bush did for her"
The Bushes and Obamas are very close friends now. Both Michelle and Barack have said some of the best times they've had living in the White House is when they've had Geaorge and Laura over.
The Bushes and Obamas are very close friends now. Both Michelle and Barack have said some of the best times they've had living in the White House is when they've had Geaorge and Laura over.
From the article...
It is no secret that the former and current first ladies are fond of each other.
“I like this woman,” Obama has said of her predecessor.
No where in the article did it say Bush returned the compliment.
If the event reflected a long-running mutual admiration between the two women,
it also couldn’t help but draw attention to the Bushes’ decisions in this divisive
political campaign. They are picking and choosing those with whom they want to be
associated, and Laura Bush clearly likes the Obamas.
That is the opinion of the writer.
There is no question that there is no love lost between Bush and Trump but I don't
see Bush inviting Obama to a BBQ at his ranch.
