Michelle Obama claims America still rejects female leadership, reigniting debate after failures of Harris and Clinton and renewed pressure for her to run.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama has ignited a national political storm after declaring that the United States is still “not ready” to elect a woman president — a pointed remark delivered in the wake of failed presidential bids by Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton.
Speaking during a public conversation with actress Tracee Ellis Ross as part of her book tour, Obama lamented that American politics has yet to create real space for female leadership.
“As we saw in this past election, sadly, we ain’t ready,” she said, adding that the resistance comes largely from men uncomfortable being led by a woman.
Michelle Obama remains one of the Democratic Party’s most powerful public figures, and every election cycle brings a fresh wave of speculation urging her to seek the Oval Office. But she has repeatedly — and emphatically — rejected the idea.
“I will not run for president. No, nope, not going to do it,” she said back in 2016 before the Clinton-Trump showdown, a stance she has maintained even as Democratic enthusiasm surged around her name.
Calls for her candidacy resurfaced during the 2024 election, a bitter contest between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. With voter frustration towards Biden reaching critical levels, Kamala Harris briefly emerged as the Democratic frontrunner before the party reshuffled its strategy. Obama stepped in to campaign for Harris, warning voters that Trump posed a grave danger to women’s rights and freedoms.
At a rally in Michigan, Obama delivered a searing message:
“Please, please do not hand our fates over to the likes of Trump… a vote for him is a vote against us, against our health, against our worth.”
For Israelis — accustomed to strong female leadership, from Golda Meir to present-day national security figures — Obama’s remarks highlight a stark contrast: in Israel, capability often outweighs political theatrics. In the U.S., the debate over whether America can elect a woman president appears far from settled.
