:en:Michelle Obama
{{short description|First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017}}
{{redirect|First Lady Michelle Obama|the painting|First Lady Michelle Obama (painting){{!}}First Lady Michelle Obama (painting)}}
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{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
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{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Michelle Obama 2013 official portrait.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2013
| alt = Official portrait of Michelle Obama in the Green Room of the White House
| office = First Lady of the United States
| president = Barack Obama
| term_label = In role
| term_start = January 20, 2009
| term_end = January 20, 2017
| predecessor = Laura Bush
| successor = Melania Trump
| birth_name = Michelle LaVaughn Robinson
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|1|17}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| party = Democratic
| spouse = {{marriage|Barack Obama|October 3, 1992}}
| children = {{flatlist|
}}
| parents = {{plainlist|
}}
| relatives = {{plainlist|
- Obama family (by marriage)
- Craig Robinson (brother)
}}
| education = {{plainlist|
}}
| signature = Michelle Obama signature.svg
| module = {{listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Michelle Obama voice.ogg |title=Michelle Obama's voice|type=speech|description=Obama on the Soweto uprising and female leadership in Africa
Recorded June 23, 2011}}
}}
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama{{cite web |date=December 23, 2014 |title=First Lady Michelle Obama |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/first-lady-michelle-obama |access-date=March 4, 2021 |publisher=White House |archive-date=January 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120190706/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/first-lady-michelle-obama |url-status=live}} ({{née}} Robinson; born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017, being married to Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States.
Raised on the South Side of Chicago, Obama is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. In her early legal career, she worked at the law firm Sidley Austin where she met her future husband. She subsequently worked in nonprofits and as the associate dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago. Later, she served as vice president for community and external affairs of the University of Chicago Medical Center. Michelle married Barack in 1992, and they have two daughters.
Obama campaigned for her husband's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns. She was the first African-American woman to serve as first lady. As first lady, Obama worked as an advocate for poverty awareness, education, nutrition, physical activity, and healthy eating. She has written three books, including her The New York Times best-selling memoir Becoming (2018) and The Light We Carry (2022).
Family and education
{{see also|Family of Barack Obama#Michelle Obama's extended family}}
= Early life and ancestry =
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson was born on January 17, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois, to Fraser Robinson III (1935–1991), a city water plant employee and Democratic precinct captain, and Marian Shields Robinson (1937–2024), a secretary at Spiegel's catalog store.{{cite news |access-date=January 22, 2008 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/221458,CST-NWS-mich21.article |title=The woman behind Obama |author=Rossi, Rosalind |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=January 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215230648/http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/221458%2CCST-NWS-mich21.article |archive-date=February 15, 2008 |url-status=dead}} Her mother was a full-time homemaker until Michelle entered high school.{{cite journal |title=Mrs. Obama goes to Washington |author=Slevin, Peter |date=March 18, 2009
|journal=Princeton Alumni Weekly |volume=109 |pages=18–22 |issue=10}}
The Robinson and Shields families trace their roots to pre-Civil War African Americans in the American South.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/10/08/us/politics/20091008-obama-family-tree.html |title=The Family Tree of Michelle Obama, the First Lady|access-date=September 23, 2014|date=October 7, 2009|work=The New York Times|author1=Dance, Gabriel|author2=Elisabeth Goodridge|name-list-style=amp|archive-date=October 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011004127/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/10/08/us/politics/20091008-obama-family-tree.html|url-status=live}} On her father's side, she is descended from the Gullah people of South Carolina's Lowcountry region.{{cite web|url=http://www.islandpacket.com/2009/04/04/804596/examining-michelle-obamas-lowcountry.html#ixzz1SPm5xZif |title=Examining Michelle Obama's Lowcountry roots|work=The Island Packet|date=April 4, 2009 |access-date=August 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927083448/http://www.islandpacket.com/2009/04/04/804596/examining-michelle-obamas-lowcountry.html |archive-date=September 27, 2011}} Her paternal great-great-grandfather, Jim Robinson, was born into slavery in 1850 on Friendfield Plantation, near Georgetown, South Carolina.{{cite news |author=Murray, Shailagh |title=A Family Tree Rooted in American Soil: Michelle Obama Learns About Her Slave Ancestors, Herself and Her Country |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/01/AR2008100103169.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=C01 |date=October 2, 2008 |access-date=October 9, 2008 |archive-date=December 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216003036/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/01/AR2008100103169.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news | title=From slave cabin to White House, a family rooted in black America | url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/from-slave-cabin-to-white-house-a-family-rooted-in-black-america-cggrghv3jcv |author=Bone, James |work=The Times |location=London |date=November 6, 2008 |access-date=January 15, 2025}} He became a freedman at the age of 15 after the war. Some of Obama's paternal family still reside in the Georgetown area.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7470764.stm |publisher=BBC News |title=Michelle: Barack's bitter or better half? |author=Levinson, Molly |date=June 4, 2008 |access-date=April 4, 2009 |archive-date=January 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123161421/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7470764.stm |url-status=live}}{{cite news |access-date=April 3, 2009 |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11831859|title=Spouses on the Campaign Trail: Michelle Obama Sees Election as Test for America|author=Norris, Michele|work=All Things Considered|date=July 9, 2007|publisher=NPR|archive-date=September 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921225850/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11831859|url-status=live}} Her grandfather, Fraser Robinson Jr., built his own house in South Carolina. He and his wife LaVaughn (née Johnson) returned to the Lowcountry from Chicago after retirement.
Among her maternal ancestors was her great-great-great-grandmother, Melvinia Dosey Shields,{{cite web|title=Melvina Mattie Shields|url=https://www.geni.com/people/Melvina-Shields/6000000006713768076|access-date=November 3, 2021|website=Geni|language=en-US|archive-date=January 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128180226/https://www.geni.com/people/Melvina-Shields/6000000006713768076|url-status=live}} born into slavery in South Carolina but sold to Henry Walls Shields, who had a 200-acre farm in Clayton County, Georgia, near Atlanta. Melvinia's first son, Adolphus T. Shields, was biracial and born into slavery around 1860. Based on DNA and other evidence, in 2012, researchers said his father was likely 20-year-old Charles Marion Shields, son of Melvinia's master. They may have had a continuing relationship, as she had two more mixed-race children and lived near Shields after emancipation, taking his surname (she later changed her surname).{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/us/dna-gives-new-insights-into-michelle-obamas-roots.html|title=Meet Your Cousin, the First Lady: A Family Story, Long Hidden|last=Swarns|first=Rachel L.|date=June 16, 2012|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 20, 2014|archive-date=April 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428154236/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/us/dna-gives-new-insights-into-michelle-obamas-roots.html|url-status=live}}
As was often the case, Melvinia did not talk to relatives about Dolphus's father.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/us/politics/08genealogy.html|title=In First Lady's Roots, a Complex Path From Slavery|last1=Swarns|first1=Rachel L.|last2=Kantor|first2=Jodi|date=October 7, 2009|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 20, 2014|archive-date=September 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905104607/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/us/politics/08genealogy.html|url-status=live}} Dolphus Shields, with his wife Alice, moved to Birmingham, Alabama, after the Civil War. They were great-great-grandparents of Robinson, whose grandparents had moved to Chicago. Other of their children's lines migrated to Cleveland, Ohio, in the 20th century.
All four of Robinson's grandparents had multiracial ancestors, reflecting the complex history of the United States. Her extended family has said that people did not talk about the era of slavery when they were growing up. Her distant ancestry includes Irish, English, and Native American roots.{{cite news |author=Produced by Meghan Louttit/The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/06/22/us/first-lady-family-q-and-a.html |title=The First Family: A New Glimpse of Michelle Obama's White Ancestors – Interactive Feature |location=Southern States (US) |work=The New York Times |date=June 22, 2012 |access-date=December 14, 2012 |archive-date=July 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720062351/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/06/22/us/first-lady-family-q-and-a.html |url-status=live}} Among her contemporary extended family is Rabbi Capers Funnye, her first cousin once removed. Funnye (born in Georgetown, South Carolina, and about 12 years older than Michelle) is the son of her paternal grandfather's sister and her husband; he converted to Judaism after college.{{cite news |first=Zev |last=Chafets |title=Obama's Rabbi |date=April 5, 2009 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/magazine/05rabbi-t.html?em=&pagewanted=all |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 5, 2009 |archive-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127065544/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/magazine/05rabbi-t.html?em=&pagewanted=all |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.forward.com/articles/14121/ |title=Michelle Obama Has a Rabbi in Her Family |access-date=September 2, 2008 |author=Anthony Weiss |date=September 2, 2008 |work=The Jewish Daily Forward |archive-date=September 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905221444/http://www.forward.com/articles/14121/ |url-status=live}}
Robinson's childhood home was on the upper floor of 7436 South Euclid Avenue in Chicago's South Shore community area, which her parents rented from her great-aunt, who had the first floor.{{cite news |first=Eli |last=Saslow |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/31/AR2009013101876.html?sid=ST2009013102074 |title=From the Second City, An Extended First Family |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 1, 2009 |access-date=July 24, 2010 |archive-date=September 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927050147/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/31/AR2009013101876.html?sid=ST2009013102074 |url-status=live}}{{cite magazine |access-date=January 22, 2008 |url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/05/31/040531fa_fact1 |author=Finnegan, William |title=The Candidate: How the Son of a Kenyan Economist Became an Illinois Everyman |magazine=The New Yorker |date=May 31, 2004 |archive-date=April 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414044516/http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/05/31/040531fa_fact1 |url-status=live}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1849421,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014224908/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1849421,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 14, 2008 |title=Michelle Obama, A Life |access-date=January 8, 2009 | date=October 13, 2008 |magazine=Time |author=Pickert, Kate}} She was raised in what she describes as a "conventional" home, with "the mother at home, the father works, you have dinner around the table". Her elementary school was down the street. She and her family enjoyed playing games such as Monopoly, reading, and frequently saw extended family on both sides. She played piano,{{cite news |author=Peter Conrad |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/nov/18/becoming-by-michelle-obama-book-review-peter-conrad |title=Becoming by Michelle Obama – review |newspaper=The Guardian |date=November 18, 2018}} learning from her great-aunt, who was a piano teacher.Bond, p. 40. The Robinsons attended services at nearby South Shore United Methodist Church. They used to vacation in a rustic cabin in White Cloud, Michigan. She and her 21-month-older brother, Craig, skipped the second grade.{{cite news|url=http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=45|title=Michelle Obama Biography|date=February 5, 2009|publisher=National First Ladies' Library|access-date=April 6, 2016|archive-date=May 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509081758/http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=45|url-status=dead}}
Robinson's father suffered from multiple sclerosis, which had a profound effect on her. Subsequently, she was determined to stay out of trouble and perform well in school.{{cite news|url=http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2014/09/09/first-lady-michelle-obama-remembers-the-struggles-of-her-father-in-talk-to-atlanta-students/|title=First Lady Michelle Obama Remembers The Struggles of Her Father in Talk To Atlanta Students |first=Maria |last=Boynton |date=September 9, 2014 |publisher=atlanta.cbslocal.com |access-date=February 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303111127/http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2014/09/09/first-lady-michelle-obama-remembers-the-struggles-of-her-father-in-talk-to-atlanta-students/|archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead}} By sixth grade, Michelle joined a gifted class at Bryn Mawr Elementary School (later renamed Bouchet Academy).{{cite news |first=Rosalind |last=Ross |title=Kids at Michelle Obama's old school see reflection |date=November 10, 2008 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1270055,CST-NWS-kids10.article |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=November 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114121740/http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1270055%2CCST-NWS-kids10.article |archive-date=November 14, 2008 |url-status=dead}} She attended Whitney Young High School,{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2004/09/01/her-plan-went-awry-but-michelle-obama-doesnt-mind/ |title=Her plan went awry, but Michelle Obama doesn't mind – Chicago Tribune |last=West |first=Cassandra |date=September 1, 2004 |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=August 21, 2010}} Chicago's first magnet high school, established as a selective enrollment school, where she was a classmate of Jesse Jackson's daughter Santita.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1835686,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080826024420/http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1835686,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 26, 2008 |title=Michelle Obama's Savvy Sacrifice|access-date=October 12, 2008|date=August 25, 2008 |magazine=Time|author=Newton-Small, Jay}} The round-trip commute from the Robinsons' South Side home to the Near West Side, where the school was located, took three hours. Michelle recalled being fearful of how others would perceive her, but disregarded any negativity around her and used it "to fuel me, to keep me going".{{cite news |url=https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20141014/south-shore-above-79th/michelle-obama-recalls-stressful-childhood-south-shore-at-whitney-young |title=Michelle Obama Recalls Stressful Childhood in South Shore, at Whitney Young |date=October 14, 2014 |publisher=DNAinfo |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112045239/http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20141014/south-shore-above-79th/michelle-obama-recalls-stressful-childhood-south-shore-at-whitney-young |archive-date=January 12, 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/michelle-obama-get-personal-empower-youth |title=First lady gets personal in education push|date=November 12, 2013 |publisher=MSNBC |first=Morgan |last=Whitaker |access-date=February 10, 2016 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140046/http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/michelle-obama-get-personal-empower-youth |url-status=live}} She recalled facing gender discrimination growing up, saying, for example, that rather than asking her for her opinion on a given subject, people commonly tended to ask what her older brother thought.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/04/politics/michelle-obama-qatar-education/|title=In Qatar, Michelle Obama delivers pointed message on women's rights|date=November 4, 2015 |first=Kevin |last=Liptak |publisher=CNN |access-date=December 12, 2015 |archive-date=October 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011093424/https://www.cnn.com/2015/11/04/politics/michelle-obama-qatar-education/ |url-status=live}} She was on the honor roll for four years, took advanced placement classes, was a member of the National Honor Society, and served as student council treasurer. She graduated in 1981 as the salutatorian of her class.
= Education and early career =
Robinson was inspired to follow her brother to Princeton University, which she entered in 1981.{{cite news |last=Jacobs |first=Sally |url=http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/06/15/learning_to_be_michelle_obama/?page=full |title=Learning to be Michelle Obama |work=The Boston Globe |date=June 15, 2008 |access-date=December 30, 2018 |archive-date=December 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231111912/http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/06/15/learning_to_be_michelle_obama/?page=full |url-status=live}} She majored in sociology and minored in African-American studies, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in 1985 after completing a 99-page senior thesis titled Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community under the supervision of Walter Wallace.{{cite web |last=Robinson |first=Michelle LaVaughn |editor-last=Wallace |editor-first=Walter |editor2-last=Princeton University. Department of Sociology|title=Princeton Educated Blacks and the Black Community |url=https://catalog.princeton.edu/catalog/dsp01th83m1205 |access-date=May 28, 2020 |archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803235925/https://catalog.princeton.edu/catalog/dsp01th83m1205 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Princeton sociologist Walter Wallace dies at age 88 |url=https://www.princeton.edu/news/2015/12/08/princeton-sociologist-walter-wallace-dies-age-88 |publisher=Princeton University |access-date=May 28, 2020 |archive-date=May 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527235350/https://www.princeton.edu/news/2015/12/08/princeton-sociologist-walter-wallace-dies-age-88 |url-status=live}}
Robinson recalls that some of her teachers in high school tried to dissuade her from applying, and that she had been warned against "setting my sights too high".{{cite news|url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/politics-news/michelle-obama-recalls-being-told-shed-never-get-into-prince.html|title=Michelle Obama Recalls Being Told She'd 'Never Get Into' Princeton|date=November 13, 2013|publisher=ABC News|access-date=May 24, 2018|archive-date=April 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418122128/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/politics-news/michelle-obama-recalls-being-told-shed-never-get-into-prince.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/michelle-obama-kicks-new-education-initiative-washington-high-school-article-1.1514284|title=Michelle Obama kicks off new education initiative at Washington, D.C. high school|date=November 12, 2013|work=New York Daily News|access-date=January 10, 2016|archive-date=July 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708021242/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/michelle-obama-kicks-new-education-initiative-washington-high-school-article-1.1514284|url-status=live}} She believed her brother's status as a student in good standing (he graduated in 1983) might have helped her during the admission process,{{cite book|title=Michelle Obama: First Lady of Hope|page=[https://archive.org/details/michelleobamafir00ligh/page/20 20.]|year=2008|publisher=Lyons Press|isbn=978-1-59921-521-1|url=https://archive.org/details/michelleobamafir00ligh/page/20}} but she was resolved to demonstrate her own worth.{{cite book|title=Michelle Obama, a Biography|first=Alma Halbert|last=Bond|pages=41–42|publisher=Greenwood|year=2011|isbn=978-0-313-38104-1}} She has said she was overwhelmed during her first year, attributing this to the fact that neither of her parents had graduated from college,{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/education/2014/02/michelle_obama_recounts_difficult_freshman_year_at_princeton_in_new_video.html|title=Michelle Obama recounts difficult first year at Princeton in new video|date=February 7, 2014|first=Kelly|last=Heyboer|publisher=nj.com|access-date=January 10, 2016|archive-date=March 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305125503/https://www.nj.com/education/2014/02/michelle_obama_recounts_difficult_freshman_year_at_princeton_in_new_video.html |url-status=live}} and that she had never spent time on a college campus.{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/3915678/michelle-obama-commencement-chicago/ |title=Michelle Obama to Chicago High School Grads: 'Stay Hungry' |magazine=Time |date=June 10, 2015 |access-date=January 10, 2016 |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412040920/http://time.com/3915678/michelle-obama-commencement-chicago/ |url-status=live}}
The mother of a white roommate reportedly tried to get her daughter reassigned because of Michelle's race. Robinson said being at Princeton was the first time she became more aware of her ethnicity and, despite the willingness of her classmates and teachers to reach out to her, she still felt "like a visitor on campus".{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/03/michelle-obama-princeton-harvard-116390 |title=Michelle Obama, Race and the Ivy League |date=March 26, 2015 |publisher=POLITICO |first=Peter |last=Slevin |access-date=January 10, 2016 |archive-date=November 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123103935/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/03/michelle-obama-princeton-harvard-116390 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/10/AR2007051002573_2.html |title=Michelle Obama's Career Timeout |date=May 11, 2007 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=September 5, 2017 |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124163055/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/10/AR2007051002573_2.html |url-status=live}} There were also issues of economic class. "I remember being shocked," she says, "by college students who drove BMWs. I didn't even know parents who drove BMWs."
While at Princeton, Robinson became involved with the Third World Center (now known as the Carl A. Fields Center), an academic and cultural group who supported minority students. She ran their daycare center, which also offered after-school tutoring for older children.{{cite book |title=Biography Today |year=2009 |page=[https://archive.org/details/biographytodaypr0000unse/page/117 117] |publisher=Omnigraphics |location=Detroit, MI |isbn=978-0-7808-1052-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/biographytodaypr0000unse/page/117}} She challenged the teaching methodology for French because she felt it should be more conversational. As part of her requirements for graduation, she wrote a sociology thesis, entitled Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community.Robinson, Michelle LaVaughn (1985), Sociology Department. "[http://libweb5.princeton.edu/theses/index.htm Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community (96 pages).] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527042623/http://libweb5.princeton.edu/theses/index.htm |date=May 27, 2019}}" Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, Princeton University. (Thesis currently unavailable from this library; see next footnote for links to text.){{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8642.html |title=Michelle Obama thesis was on racial divide |access-date=April 19, 2008 |date=February 22, 2008 |work=Politico |author=Ressner, Jeffrey |archive-date=April 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411223731/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8642.html |url-status=live}} She researched her thesis by sending a questionnaire to African-American graduates, asking that they specify when and how comfortable they were with their race prior to their enrollment at Princeton and how they felt about it when they were a student and since then. Of the 400 alumni to whom she sent the survey, fewer than 90 responded. Her findings did not support her hope that the black alumni would still identify with the African-American community, even though they had attended an elite university and had the advantages that accrue to its graduates.{{cite book|title=Michelle Obama, a Biography|first=Alma Halbert|last=Bond|pages=44–45|publisher=Greenwood|year=2011|isbn=978-0-313-38104-1}}
Robinson pursued professional study, earning her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Harvard Law School in 1988.{{cite news|author=Brown, Sarah|url=http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2005/12/07/news/14049.shtml |title= Obama '85 Masters Balancing Act| work=Daily Princetonian|date=December 7, 2005|access-date=April 3, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220165725/http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2005/12/07/14049/| archive-date=February 20, 2009}} By the time she applied for Harvard Law, biographer Bond wrote, her confidence had increased: "This time around, there was no doubt in her mind that she had earned her place". Her faculty mentor at Harvard Law was Charles Ogletree, who has said she had answered the question that had plagued her throughout Princeton by the time she arrived at Harvard Law: whether she would remain the product of her parents or keep the identity she had acquired at Princeton; she had concluded she could be "both brilliant and black".{{cite book|title=The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama|page=204| first=David|last=Remnick| year=2011|publisher=Vintage|isbn=978-0-375-70230-3}}
At Harvard, Robinson participated in demonstrations advocating the hiring of professors who were members of minority groups.{{cite news |access-date=April 3, 2009 |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/112849 |title=Barack's Rock |last=Wolffe |first=Richard |work=Newsweek |date=February 25, 2008 |archive-date=April 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417103534/http://www.newsweek.com/id/112849 |url-status=live}} She worked for the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, assisting low-income tenants with housing cases."Biography Today", p. 117 She is the third first lady to have a postgraduate degree, after her two immediate predecessors, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush. She later said her education gave her opportunities beyond what she had ever imagined.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/05/michelle-obama-in-qatar-outdated-laws-and-traditions-rob-girls-of-education |title=Michelle Obama in Qatar: 'outdated laws and traditions' rob girls of education |date=November 4, 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=December 15, 2016 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108101437/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/05/michelle-obama-in-qatar-outdated-laws-and-traditions-rob-girls-of-education |url-status=live}}
= Family life =
Michelle's mother, Marian Robinson, was a stay-at-home mother.{{cite web |date=January 13, 2021 |title=Michelle Obama|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michelle-Obama |access-date=March 11, 2021 |website=Britannica |archive-date=July 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722220336/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michelle-Obama |url-status=live}} Her father was Fraser C. Robinson III, who worked at the city's water purification plant. Robinson's father, Fraser, died from complications from his illness in March 1991.{{cite news |url=http://nymag.com/news/politics/55360/ |title=Michelle's Life |date=March 15, 2009 |publisher=nymag.com |access-date=March 22, 2016 |archive-date=July 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730141309/https://nymag.com/news/politics/55360/ |url-status=live}} She would later say that although he was the "hole in my heart" and "loss in my scar", the memory of her father has motivated her each day since. Her friend Suzanne Alele died from cancer around this time as well. These losses made her think of her contributions toward society and how well she was influencing the world from her law firm in her first job after law school. She considered this a turning point.Lightfoot, p. 53. Her mother died in May 2024, which Obama has said she takes part in therapy to help with.{{Cite web |title=Michelle Obama shares Barack's blunt three words after her mom died |url=https://vt.co/entertainment/celebrity/michelle-obama-shares-baracks-blunt-three-words-after-her-mom-died |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=VT |language=en}}
Robinson met Barack Obama when they were among the few African Americans at their law firm, Sidley Austin LLP (she has sometimes said only two, although others have noted that there were others in different departments).{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/26/AR2008092602856.html|title=When Michelle Met Barack|last=Mundy|first=Liza|date=October 5, 2008|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 25, 2008|archive-date=August 22, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822200455/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/26/AR2008092602856.html|url-status=live}} She was assigned to mentor him while he was a summer associate.{{cite news |access-date=February 12, 2008 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/10/AR2007051002573_2.html |title=Michelle Obama's Career Timeout |author=Kornblut, Anne E. |date=May 11, 2007 |newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124163055/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/10/AR2007051002573_2.html |url-status=live}} Their relationship started with a business lunch and then a community organization meeting where he first impressed her.
Before meeting Obama, Michelle had told her mother she intended to focus solely on her career.{{cite news |url=http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/what_michelle_obama_didnt_like_about_working_at_sidley_austin/ |title=What Michelle Obama Didn't Like About Working at Sidley Austin |publisher=abajournal.com |date=October 6, 2008 |first=Martha |last=Neil |access-date=March 22, 2016 |archive-date=June 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601031303/https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/what_michelle_obama_didnt_like_about_working_at_sidley_austin|url-status=live}} The couple's first date was to Spike Lee's movie Do the Right Thing (1989).{{cite news |last1=Greene |first1=Nick |last2=Whitworth |first2=Melissa |title=50 things you didn't know about Michelle Obama |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/michelle-obama/4317226/50-things-you-didnt-know-about-Michelle-Obama.html |url-status=dead |work=The Telegraph |location=London |date=January 22, 2009 |access-date=April 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125035853/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/michelle-obama/4317226/50-things-you-didnt-know-about-Michelle-Obama.html |archive-date=January 25, 2009}} Barack Obama has said the couple had an "opposites attract" scenario in their initial interest in each other since Michelle had stability from her two-parent home while he was "adventurous".{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/obama-opens-up-about-his-father-his-mother-and-his-marriage/article/2566757 |title=Obama opens up about his father, his mother and his marriage |first=Susan |last=Crabtree |publisher=Washington Examiner |date=June 22, 2015 |access-date=February 21, 2016 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162837/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/obama-opens-up-about-his-father-his-mother-and-his-marriage/article/2566757 |url-status=live}} They married on October 3, 1992.{{cite news |first=Scott |last=Fornek |title=Michelle Obama: 'He Swept Me Off My Feet' |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=October 3, 2007 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/585261,CST-NWS-wedding03.stng |access-date=December 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214054327/http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/585261%2CCST-NWS-wedding03.stng |archive-date=December 14, 2007 |url-status=dead}} After suffering a miscarriage, Michelle underwent in vitro fertilisation{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/09/michelle-obama-had-miscarriage-used-ivf-conceive-girls/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/09/michelle-obama-had-miscarriage-used-ivf-conceive-girls/ |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Michelle Obama had miscarriage, used IVF to conceive girls |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |first=Ben |last=Riley-Smith |date=November 9, 2018 |access-date=November 15, 2018}}{{cbignore}} to conceive their daughters Malia Ann (born 1998) and Natasha (known as Sasha, born 2001).{{cite news |access-date=April 3, 2009 |title=Ground Support |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/70165?tid=relatedcl |author1=Springen, Karen |author2=Jonathan Darman |name-list-style=amp |work=Newsweek |date=January 29, 2007 |archive-date=August 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813224656/http://www.newsweek.com/id/70165?tid=relatedcl |url-status=live}}
The Obama family lived on Chicago's South Side, where Barack taught at the University of Chicago Law School. He was elected to the state senate in 1996 and to the U.S. Senate in 2004. They chose to keep their residence in Chicago after Barack's election rather than to move to Washington, DC, as they felt it was better for their daughters. Throughout her husband's 2008 campaign for U.S. president, Obama made a "commitment to be away overnight only once a week{{snd}}to campaign only two days a week and be home by the end of the second day" for their two daughters.{{cite news|title=Mother, wife, superstar|url=http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/mother_wife_superstar/6037|author=Piasecki, Joe|date=June 5, 2008|work=Pasadena Weekly|publisher=Southland Publishing|access-date=April 3, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416013539/http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/mother_wife_superstar/6037/|archive-date=April 16, 2009}}
File:Barack Obama family portrait 2011.jpg of the Obama family in the Oval Office, December 11, 2011]]
She once requested that her then-fiancé meet her prospective boss, Valerie Jarrett, when considering her first career move; Jarrett became one of her husband's closest advisors.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120269904120358135|title=Michelle Obama Solidifies Her Role|access-date=February 12, 2008|date=February 11, 2008|author=Langley, Monica|work=The Wall Street Journal|archive-date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923084914/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120269904120358135|url-status=live}} The marital relationship has had its ebbs and flows; the combination of an evolving family life and beginning political career led to many arguments about balancing work and family. Barack Obama wrote in his second book, The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, that "Tired and stressed, we had little time for conversation, much less romance."{{cite news|title=Fame puts squeeze on family life: Many hurdles as Obamas seek balance|date=October 19, 2006|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Herrmann, Andrew}} Despite their family obligations and careers, they continued to try to schedule "date nights" while they lived in Chicago.{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2008/11/21/whispers-poll-president-elect-obama-and-michelle-obamas-date-night.html|title=Whispers Poll: President-Elect Obama and Michelle Obama's Date Night|access-date=January 10, 2009|date=November 21, 2008|work=U.S. News & World Report|author=Bedard, Paul|archive-date=December 30, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230041300/http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2008/11/21/whispers-poll-president-elect-obama-and-michelle-obamas-date-night.html|url-status=live}}
The Obamas' daughters attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, a private school.{{cite news |url=http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/the-rantings-of-a-pta-mom/ |title=The Rantings of a P.T.A. Mom |access-date=October 13, 2008 |date=September 9, 2008 |work=The New York Times |author=Loh, Sandra Tsing |archive-date=September 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913032103/http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/the-rantings-of-a-pta-mom/ |url-status=live}} As a member of the school's board, Michelle fought to maintain diversity in the school when other board members connected with the University of Chicago tried to reserve more slots for children of the university faculty. This resulted in a plan to expand the school to increase enrollment. In Washington, DC, Malia and Sasha attended Sidwell Friends School, after also considering Georgetown Day School.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/21/AR2008112103248.html |title=Obama Girls Will Go To Sidwell Friends: Elite Private School Is 'Best Fit' for Next First Family |author=Leiby, Richard L. |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 22, 2008 |access-date=December 9, 2008 |archive-date=December 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212124823/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/21/AR2008112103248.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/170360|title=Just One More Frame!: How do you raise kids in the White House and 'keep them normal,' too? |access-date=January 9, 2009 |date=November 22, 2008 |work=Newsweek |author=Smalley, Suzanne |archive-date=December 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218104943/http://www.newsweek.com/id/170360 |url-status=live}} In 2008, Michelle said in an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that they did not intend to have any more children.{{cite news|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/michelle-im-done/?|title=Michelle Obama: 'I'm Done'|access-date=October 13, 2008|date=September 4, 2008|work=The New York Times|author=Zeleny, Jeff|archive-date=September 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918155703/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/michelle-im-done/|url-status=live}} The Obamas received advice from past first ladies Laura Bush, Rosalynn Carter, and Hillary Clinton about raising children in the White House. Marian Robinson, Michelle's mother, moved in to the White House to assist with child care.{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/11/07/michelle-obama-slights-working-women.html|title=Michelle Obama Slights Working Women|access-date=January 10, 2009|date=November 7, 2008|work=U.S. News & World Report|author=Erbe, Bonnie|archive-date=February 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203200933/http://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/11/07/michelle-obama-slights-working-women.html|url-status=live}}
= Religion =
File:Obamas at church on Inauguration Day 2013.jpg
Obama was raised United Methodist and joined the Trinity United Church of Christ, a mostly black congregation of the Reformed denomination known as the United Church of Christ. She and Barack Obama were married there by Rev. Jeremiah Wright. On May 31, 2008, Barack and Michelle Obama announced that they had withdrawn their membership in Trinity United Church of Christ saying: "Our relations with Trinity have been strained by the divisive statements of Reverend Wright, which sharply conflict with our own views."{{cite news|url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/05/obama_resigns_from_trinity_uni.html|title=Obama resigns from Trinity United Church of Christ. UPDATE. Obama to answer questions about his church Saturday night|first=Lynn| last=Sweet|access-date=January 22, 2013|date=May 31, 2008|work=Chicago Sun-Times|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209224315/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/05/obama_resigns_from_trinity_uni.html|archive-date=February 9, 2013}}
The Obama family attended several different Protestant churches after moving to Washington D.C. in 2009, including Shiloh Baptist Church and St. John's Episcopal Church on Lafayette Square, known as the Presidents' Church. At the 49th African Methodist Episcopal Church's general conference, Michelle Obama encouraged the attendees to advocate for political awareness, saying, "To anyone who says that church is no place to talk about these issues, you tell them there is no place better{{snd}}no place better, because ultimately, these are not just political issues{{snd}}they are moral issues, they're issues that have to do with human dignity and human potential, and the future we want for our kids and our grandkids."{{cite press release|last=Obama|first=Michelle|title=Remarks by the First Lady at the African Methodist Episcopal Church Conference|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/06/28/remarks-first-lady-african-methodist-episcopal-church-conference|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|access-date=February 22, 2013|archive-date=January 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126220652/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/06/28/remarks-first-lady-african-methodist-episcopal-church-conference|url-status=live}}
Career
Following law school, Obama became an associate at the Chicago office of the law firm Sidley & Austin, where she met her future husband Barack. At the firm, she worked on marketing and intellectual property law. She continues to hold her law license, but as she no longer needs it for her work, she has kept it on a voluntary inactive status since 1993.{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/lawlicenses.asp|title=Taking License|date=April 8, 2010|publisher=Snopes|access-date=February 9, 2011|archive-date=June 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624192740/http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/lawlicenses.asp|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=The Obamas' Law Licenses|url=http://factcheck.org/2012/06/the-obamas-law-licenses/|date=June 14, 2012|first=D'Angelo|last=Gore|publisher=FactCheck.org|access-date=June 22, 2012|archive-date=June 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618170941/http://factcheck.org/2012/06/the-obamas-law-licenses/|url-status=live}}
In 1991, she held public sector positions in the Chicago city government as an assistant to the mayor and as the assistant commissioner of planning and development. In 1993, she became executive director for the Chicago office of Public Allies, a non-profit organization encouraging young people to work on social issues in nonprofit groups and government agencies. She worked there nearly four years and set fundraising records for the organization that stood twelve years after she had left. Obama later said she had never been happier in her life prior to working "to build Public Allies".{{cite news|url=http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/2015/04/14/an-inside-look-at-michelle-obamas-life-before-the-white-house|title=Michelle Obama: Who she was before the White House|first=Peter|last=Slevin|date=April 14, 2015|access-date=January 10, 2016|archive-date=January 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112010836/http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/2015/04/14/an-inside-look-at-michelle-obamas-life-before-the-white-house/|url-status=dead}}
In 1996, Obama served as the associate dean of student services at the University of Chicago, where she developed the university's Community Service Center.{{cite journal|journal=University of Chicago Chronicle|url=http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/960606/obama.shtml|title=Obama named first Associate Dean of Student Services|date=June 6, 1996|volume=15|issue=19|access-date=April 4, 2009|archive-date=September 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904003911/http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/960606/obama.shtml|url-status=live}} In 2002, she began working for the University of Chicago Hospitals, first as executive director for community affairs and, beginning May 2005, as vice president for community and external affairs.{{cite press release|url=http://www.uchospitals.edu/news/2005/20050509-obama.html|publisher=University of Chicago Medical Center|title=Michelle Obama appointed vice president for community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals|date=May 9, 2005|access-date=April 4, 2009|archive-date=August 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812151109/http://www.uchospitals.edu/news/2005/20050509-obama.html|url-status=dead}}
She continued to hold the University of Chicago Hospitals position during the primary campaign of 2008 but cut back to part-time in order to spend time with her daughters as well as work for her husband's election.{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4179656&page=1|publisher=ABC News|title=Michelle Obama: Mom First, Politics Second|author=Snow, Kate|date=January 24, 2008|access-date=April 4, 2009|archive-date=August 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813233928/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4179656&page=1|url-status=live}} She subsequently took a leave of absence from her job.{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-michelle_obama_first_ladynov09,0,7595775.story|title=Michelle Obama blazes a new trail|author=St. Clair, Stacy|work=Chicago Tribune|date=November 8, 2008|access-date=November 20, 2008|archive-date=November 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081116224810/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-michelle_obama_first_ladynov09,0,7595775.story|url-status=live}}
According to the couple's 2006 income tax return, her salary was $273,618 from the University of Chicago Hospitals, while her husband had a salary of $157,082 from the United States Senate. The Obamas' total income was $991,296, which included $51,200 that she earned as a member of the board of directors of TreeHouse Foods and investments and royalties from his books.{{cite news|access-date=February 12, 2008 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-05-10-michelle-obama_N.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070513022818/http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-05-10-michelle-obama_N.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 13, 2007 |title=Michelle Obama: Campaigning her way |date=May 12, 2007 |work=USA Today |author=Keen, Judy}}
Obama served as a salaried board member of TreeHouse Foods, Inc. ({{nyse2|THS}}),{{cite web|access-date=April 4, 2009 |url=http://www.treehousefoods.com/bio_michelle_obama.html |title=Board of Directors: Michelle Obama |publisher=TreeHouse Foods |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415173151/http://www.treehousefoods.com/bio_michelle_obama.html |archive-date=April 15, 2009}} a major Wal-Mart supplier from shortly after her husband was seated in the Senate until she cut ties shortly after her husband announced his candidacy for the presidency; he criticized Wal-Mart labor policies at an AFL–CIO forum in Trenton, New Jersey, on May 14, 2007.{{cite news|url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/05/sweet_column_michelle_obama_qu.html |title=Sweet Column: Michelle Obama Quits Board of Wal-Mart Supplier |author=Sweet, Lynn |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=May 22, 2007 |access-date=April 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209000555/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/05/sweet_column_michelle_obama_qu.html |archive-date=February 9, 2009}} She also served on the board of directors of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.{{cite web|url=http://www.thechicagocouncil.org/chicago_council_board_directors.php|title=Directors|publisher=Chicago Council on Global Affairs|access-date=April 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218114043/http://www.thechicagocouncil.org/chicago_council_board_directors.php|archive-date=February 18, 2009}}
In 2021, the former first lady announced that she has been "moving toward retirement".{{cite web|date=March 11, 2021|title=Michelle Obama: Former US first lady says she is 'moving towards retirement'|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56357820|access-date=March 11, 2021|publisher=BBC News|archive-date=March 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311090559/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56357820|url-status=live}} Though she continues to be active in political campaigns, the former first lady has said she is reducing the amount of work to spend more time with her husband.
Barack Obama political campaigns
= Early campaigns =
During an interview in 1996, Michelle Obama acknowledged there was a "strong possibility" her husband would begin a political career, but said she was "wary" of the process. She knew it meant their lives would be subject to scrutiny and she was intensely private.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/01/19/a-couple-in-chicago|title=A Couple in Chicago|magazine=The New Yorker|first=Mariana|last=Cook|date=January 19, 2009|access-date=March 15, 2016|archive-date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219231759/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/01/19/a-couple-in-chicago|url-status=live}}
Although she campaigned on her husband's behalf since early in his political career by handshaking and fund-raising, she did not relish the activity at first. When she campaigned during her husband's 2000 run for United States House of Representatives, her boss at the University of Chicago asked if there was any single thing about campaigning that she enjoyed; after some thought, she replied that visiting so many living rooms had given her some new decorating ideas.{{cite news|author=Kantor, Jodi|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/us/politics/26michelle.html?scp=2&sq=Michelle%20Obama&st=cse|title=Michelle Obama, reluctant no more|work=The New York Times|date=August 25, 2008|access-date=August 27, 2008|archive-date=December 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230172006/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/us/politics/26michelle.html?scp=2&sq=Michelle%20Obama&st=cse|url-status=live}}{{cite book|title=The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama|page=314|first=David|last=Remnick|year=2011|publisher=Vintage|isbn=978-0-375-70230-3}} Obama opposed her husband's run for the congressional seat, and, after his defeat, she preferred he tend to the financial needs of the family in what she deemed a more practical way.{{cite book|title=The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama|page=332|first=David|last=Remnick|year=2011|publisher=Vintage|isbn=978-0-375-70230-3}}
= 2008 presidential campaign =
File:Michelle Obama and Barack Obama enjoy a victory fist pound upon winning the Democratic Nomination.jpg upon his winning the Democratic nomination.]]
At first, Obama had reservations about her husband's presidential campaign, due to fears about a possible negative effect on their daughters.{{cite news|url=http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/o/michelle_obama/index.html|title=Michelle Obama|access-date=April 8, 2009|date=March 5, 2009|work=The New York Times|first1=Rachel L.|last1=Swarns|first2=Jodi|last2=Kantor|archive-date=March 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326041225/http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/o/michelle_obama/index.html|url-status=live}} She says that she negotiated an agreement in which her husband was to quit smoking in exchange for her support of his decision to run.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120248883340754123|title=Michelle Obama on Campaign, Family|access-date=February 12, 2008|date=February 11, 2008|work=The Wall Street Journal|author=Langley, Monica|archive-date=March 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328135406/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120248883340754123|url-status=live}} About her role in her husband's presidential campaign, she has said: "My job is not a senior adviser".{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3199620|title=Michelle Obama: 'I've Got a Loud Mouth'|access-date=February 12, 2008|date=May 22, 2007|publisher=ABC News|author=Roberts, Robin|author-link=Robin Roberts (newscaster)|archive-date=December 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230171855/http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3199620|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2007/05/22/news/iowa/819e27c77eaa19fc862572e30012e0d4.txt|title=Michelle Obama: I'm his wife, not adviser|access-date=April 3, 2008|date=May 22, 2007|work=Sioux City Journal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415223824/http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2007/05/22/news/iowa/819e27c77eaa19fc862572e30012e0d4.txt|archive-date=April 15, 2009}} During the campaign, she discussed race and education by using motherhood as a framework.{{cite news|title=Focus: Women to Watch: Michelle Obama|author=Klein, Sarah A.|date=May 5, 2008|publisher=Crain Communications, Inc.|work=Crain's Chicago Business|page=29}}
In May 2007, three months after her husband declared his presidential candidacy, Obama reduced her professional responsibilities by 80 percent to support his presidential campaign.{{cite news|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/12/michelle_obama200712|title=First Lady in waiting|work=Vanity Fair|access-date=February 12, 2008|date=December 27, 2007|author=Bennetts, Leslie|archive-date=September 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924042140/http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/12/michelle_obama200712|url-status=live}} Early in the campaign, she had limited involvement, traveling to political events only two days a week and rarely traveling overnight;{{cite web|url=http://www.redbookmag.com/health-wellness/advice/michelle-obama-interview|title=How Michelle Obama Does It: Michelle Obama: The real story behind her everyday life.|access-date=September 23, 2014|date=October 18, 2008|work=Redbook|archive-date=September 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924043106/http://www.redbookmag.com/health-wellness/advice/michelle-obama-interview|url-status=live}} by early February 2008, her participation had increased significantly. She attended thirty-three events in eight days. She made several campaign appearances with Oprah Winfrey.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/07/MNC8UT9LM.DTL|title=Millions of cell calls for Clinton Big effort to contact list of likely backers gave her the state|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=February 15, 2008|date=February 7, 2008|author1=Marinucci, Carla|author2=John Wildermuth|archive-date=November 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105102045/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2008%2F02%2F07%2FMNC8UT9LM.DTL|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title={{-'}}I'm Tired of Politics as Usual'; Oprah Winfrey Makes Her Case for Sen. Obama's Presidential Candidacy|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=December 19, 2007|author1=Kornblut, Anne E.|author2=Murray, Shailagh|name-list-style=amp|page=A1}} She wrote her own stump speeches for her husband's presidential campaign and generally spoke without notes.{{cite news|url=http://www.style.com/vogue/feature/2007_Sept_Michelle_Obama|title=The natural|access-date=January 8, 2009|date=September 2007|work=Vogue|author=Johnson, Rebecca|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116125432/http://style.com/vogue/feature/2007_Sept_Michelle_Obama|archive-date=January 16, 2009}}
During the campaign, columnist Cal Thomas on Fox News described Michelle Obama as an "Angry Black Woman"{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/us/politics/18michelle.html?|title=After Attacks, Michelle Obama Looks for a New Introduction|access-date=October 13, 2008|date=June 18, 2008|work=The New York Times|author1=Powell, Michael|author2=Jodi Kantor|name-list-style=amp|archive-date=December 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211153719/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/us/politics/18michelle.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/23/mann.michelle.obama|title=A First Lady of a different kind|author=Mann, Jonathan|work=CNN|date=May 23, 2008|access-date=April 4, 2009|archive-date=April 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425023316/http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/23/mann.michelle.obama/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/transcript-fox-news-watch-june-14-2008|title=Transcript: 'Fox News Watch', June 14, 2008|date=June 16, 2008|access-date=April 4, 2009|publisher=Fox News}} and some websites attempted to promote this image.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/opinion/11dowd.html?|title=Mincing Up Michelle|access-date=October 13, 2008|date=June 11, 2008|work=The New York Times|author=Dowd, Maureen|archive-date=April 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417075810/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/opinion/11dowd.html|url-status=live}} Obama said: "Barack and I have been in the public eye for many years now, and we've developed a thick skin along the way. When you're out campaigning, there will always be criticism. I just take it in stride, and at the end of the day, I know that it comes with the territory."{{cite book|first1=Robert P.|last1=Watson|first2=Jack|last2=Covarrubias|first3=Tom|last3=Lansford|first4=Douglas M.|last4=Brattebo|title=The Obama Presidency: A Preliminary Assessment|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kNxb9efuIrIC&pg=PA393|date=April 11, 2012|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-1-4384-4330-0|pages=393–|access-date=February 23, 2015}}
By the time of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in August, media outlets observed that her presence on the campaign trail had grown softer than at the start of the race, focusing on soliciting concerns and empathizing with the audience rather than throwing down challenges to them, and giving interviews to shows such as The View and publications like Ladies' Home Journal rather than appearing on news programs. The change was reflected in her fashion choices, as she wore clothes that were more informal clothes than her earlier designer pieces. Partly intended to help soften her public image, her appearance on The View was widely covered in the press.{{cite news|author=Stanley, Alessandra |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/19/us/politics/19watch.html?|title=Michelle Obama Shows Her Warmer Side on 'The View' | access-date=October 13, 2008 |date=June 19, 2008 |work=The New York Times}}
The presidential campaign was Obama's first exposure to the national political scene; she was considered the least famous of the candidates' spouses.{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/20041755|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220172933/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/20041755/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 20, 2013|title=Michelle Obama plays unique role in campaign|access-date=February 12, 2008|date=July 30, 2007|publisher=NBC News|author=Zakin, Carly}} Early in the campaign, she told anecdotes about Obama family life; however, as the press began to emphasize her sarcasm, she toned it down.
New York Times op-ed columnist Maureen Dowd wrote:
{{blockquote|I wince a bit when Michelle Obama chides her husband as a mere mortal{{snd}}a comic routine that rests on the presumption that we see him as a god{{spaces}}... But it may not be smart politics to mock him in a way that turns him from the glam JFK into the mundane Gerald Ford, toasting his own English muffin. If all Senator Obama is peddling is the Camelot mystique, why debunk this mystique?{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/opinion/25dowd.html?scp=7&sq=Michelle+Obama+Dowd&st=nyt|title=She's Not Buttering Him Up|access-date=February 12, 2008|date=April 25, 2007|author=Dowd, Maureen|work=The New York Times}}}}
File:Michelle Obama DNC 2008.jpg.]]
On the first night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Craig Robinson introduced his younger sister.{{cite magazine|date=August 2008 | url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1836039_1836038_1836032,00.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829203212/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1836039_1836038_1836032,00.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=August 29, 2008|title=Scorecard: First-Night Speeches: Craig Robinson: Grade: B+|magazine=Time |access-date=April 4, 2009 |author=Halperin, Mark}} She delivered her speech, during which she sought to portray herself and her family as the embodiment of the American Dream. Obama said she and her husband believe "that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond, and you do what you say you're going to do, that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you don't agree with them."{{cite web|author=Naylor, Brian|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93981261|title=Interpreting Michelle Obama's speech|publisher=NPR|date=August 26, 2008|access-date=August 27, 2008|archive-date=August 29, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829192515/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93981261|url-status=live}} She also emphasized loving her country, likely responding to criticism for having said that she felt "proud of her country for the first time".{{cite news|author=Nagourney, Adam|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/us/politics/26dems.html?scp=6&sq=Michelle%20Obama&st=cse|title=Appeals evoking American Dream rally Democrats|work=The New York Times|date=August 26, 2008|access-date=August 27, 2008|archive-date=December 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230115033/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/us/politics/26dems.html?scp=6&sq=Michelle%20Obama&st=cse|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author=Pallasch, Abdon M. |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1126753,CST-NWS-dem26.article |title=Michelle Obama celebrates Chicago roots |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=August 26, 2008 |access-date=August 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829130245/http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1126753%2CCST-NWS-dem26.article |archive-date=August 29, 2008 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|author=Helman, Scott|url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/08/26/reaching_back_to_her_chicago_roots_obama_tells_an_american_story|title=Reaching back to her Chicago roots, Obama tells an American story|work=The Boston Globe|date=August 26, 2008|access-date=August 27, 2008|archive-date=August 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813181725/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/08/26/reaching_back_to_her_chicago_roots_obama_tells_an_american_story/|url-status=live}} The first statement was seen as a gaffe.{{cite news|title=Michelle Obama attacked over patriotism gaffe|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1579194/Michelle-Obama-attacked-over-patriotism-gaffe.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1579194/Michelle-Obama-attacked-over-patriotism-gaffe.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|first=Alex |last=Spillius|access-date=August 18, 2015|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=February 19, 2008}}{{cbignore}} Her keynote address was largely well-received and drew mostly positive reviews.{{cite news|author=Suellentrop, Chris|url=http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-high-note/?scp=7&sq=Michelle%20Obama&st=cse|title=Michelle Obama's high note|work=The New York Times|date=August 25, 2008|access-date=August 27, 2008|archive-date=March 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301012655/https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-high-note/?scp=7&sq=Michelle%20Obama&st=cse|url-status=live}} A Rasmussen Reports poll found that her favorability among Americans reached 55%, the highest for her.{{cite web|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/michelle_obama_favorable_rating_reaches_highest_level_ever|title=Michelle Obama Favorable Rating Reaches Highest Level Ever|work=Rasmussen Reports|date=August 29, 2008|access-date=November 12, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912172214/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/michelle_obama_favorable_rating_reaches_highest_level_ever|archive-date=September 12, 2008}}
On an October 6, 2008, broadcast, Larry King asked Obama if the American electorate was past the Bradley effect. She said her husband's winning the nomination was a fairly strong indicator that it was.{{cite news|url=http://blow.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/are-we-past-the-bradley-effect/?|title=Are We Past The 'Bradley Effect'?|access-date=October 13, 2008|date=October 9, 2008|author=Blow, Charles M.|work=The New York Times|archive-date=October 12, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012053432/http://blow.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/are-we-past-the-bradley-effect/|url-status=live}} The same night she was interviewed by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, where she deflected criticism of her husband and his campaign.{{cite news|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/michelle-obama-dismisses-criticisms/?|title=Michelle Obama Dismisses Criticisms|access-date=October 13, 2008|date=October 9, 2008|author=Seelye, Katharine Q.|work=The New York Times}} On Fox News' America's Pulse, E. D. Hill referred to the fist bump shared by the Obamas the night he clinched the Democratic presidential nomination, describing it as a "terrorist fist jab". Hill was taken off air, and the show was canceled.{{cite news|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/fox-refers-michelle-obama-baby-mama-wbna25129598|title=Fox refers to Michelle Obama as 'baby mama': TV graphic read: 'Outraged liberals: Stop picking on Obama's baby mama'|access-date=October 13, 2008|date=June 12, 2008|publisher=Today.com|archive-date=March 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305034725/http://www.today.com/popculture/fox-refers-michelle-obama-baby-mama-wbna25129598|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/2118953/Fox-News-presenter-taken-off-air-after-Barack-Obama-%27terrorist-fist-jab%27-remark.html |title=Fox News presenter taken off air after Barack Obama 'terrorist fist jab' remark |access-date=October 13, 2008 |date=June 13, 2008 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |author=Spillius, Alex |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719123315/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/2118953/Fox-News-presenter-taken-off-air-after-Barack-Obama-%27terrorist-fist-jab%27-remark.html |archive-date=July 19, 2008 |url-status=dead }}
{{clear}}
= 2012 presidential re-election campaign =
File:Obamas and Bidens on presidential election night 2012.jpg after their husbands win re-election.]]
Obama campaigned for her husband's re-election in 2012. Beginning in 2011, Obama became more politically active than she had been since the 2008 election, though avoided discussions about the re-election bid.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/us/politics/michelle-obamas-mission-energizing-the-campaign.html?_r=0|title=First Lady Takes on the Role of Staff Energizer|date=November 18, 2011|work=The New York Times|first=Jodi|last=Kantor|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=July 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730141625/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/us/politics/michelle-obamas-mission-energizing-the-campaign.html?_r=0|url-status=live}} By the time of the election cycle, she had developed a more open public image.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/us/politics/michelle-obamas-role-in-presidents-re-election-bid.html?_r=0|title=First Lady Strives for Caring Image Above Partisan Fray|date=September 3, 2012|first=Jodi|last=Kantor|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=July 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730141231/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/us/politics/michelle-obamas-role-in-presidents-re-election-bid.html?_r=0|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20359218,00.html|title=Michelle Obama in a Tie for Tallest First Lady|date=April 8, 2010|first=Stephen M.|last=Silverman|access-date=October 17, 2015|archive-date=November 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151101214305/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20359218,00.html|url-status=dead}} Some commentators viewed her as the most popular member of the Obama administration, noting that her poll approval numbers had not dropped below 60% since she entered the White House.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/can-michelle-obama-help-her-husband-win/|title=Can Michelle Obama help her husband win?|work=CBS News|date=July 24, 2012|access-date=March 14, 2016|archive-date=July 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730141402/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/can-michelle-obama-help-her-husband-win/|url-status=live}} An Obama senior campaign official said she was "the most popular political figure in America".{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/04/politics/michelle-obama-speech/|title=First lady seeks to reignite flame for president|date=September 4, 2012|work=CNN|access-date=December 13, 2015|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930204945/https://www.cnn.com/2012/09/04/politics/michelle-obama-speech/|url-status=live}} The positive assessment was reasoned to have contributed to her active role in the re-election campaign, but it was noted that the challenge for the Obama campaign was to use her without tarnishing her popularity.
Obama was considered a polarizing figure, having aroused both "sharp enmity and deep loyalty" from Americans, but she was also seen as having improved her image since 2008 when her husband first ran for the presidency.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2011/10/michelle-obama-shifts-into-2012-mode-066188|title=Michelle Obama shifts into 2012 mode|first=Julie|last=Mason|date=October 17, 2011|publisher=POLITICO|access-date=October 17, 2015|archive-date=October 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001035246/https://www.politico.com/story/2011/10/michelle-obama-shifts-into-2012-mode-066188|url-status=live}} Isabel Wilkinson of The Daily Beast said Obama's fashion style changed over the course of the campaign to be sensitive and economical.{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/07/michelle-obama-s-signs-of-fashion-restraint-on-election-night.html|title=Michelle Obama's Signs of Fashion Restraint on Election Night|date=November 7, 2012|publisher=The Daily Beast|first=Isabel|last=Wilkinson|access-date=February 4, 2016|archive-date=January 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125170858/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/07/michelle-obama-s-signs-of-fashion-restraint-on-election-night.html|url-status=live}}
Prior to the first debate of the election cycle, Obama expressed confidence in her husband's debating skills.{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/10/02/michelle-obama-husband-is-good-debater/|title=Michelle Obama: Husband Is 'Good Debater'|date=October 2, 2012|first=Laura|last=Meckler|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=August 4, 2017|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804111111/https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/10/02/michelle-obama-husband-is-good-debater/|url-status=live}} He was later criticized for appearing detached and for looking down when addressing Romney.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/04/politics/debate-5-things-learned/index.html|title=5 things we learned from the presidential debate|work=CNN|date=October 4, 2012|author1=Hamby, Peter|author2=Preston, Mark|author3=Steinhauser, Paul|access-date=December 14, 2015|archive-date=April 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418104536/https://www.cnn.com/2012/10/04/politics/debate-5-things-learned/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/04/mitt-romney-debate_n_1938052.html|title=Mitt Romney Versus Obama: 4 Key Moments From First Presidential Debate|work=The Huffington Post|date=October 4, 2012|author=Ward, Jon|access-date=December 14, 2015|archive-date=June 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607162637/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/04/mitt-romney-debate_n_1938052.html|url-status=live}} Consensus among uncommitted voters was that the latter had won the debate.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/poll-uncommitted-voters-say-romney-wins-debate/ |title=Poll: Uncommitted voters say Romney wins debate |work=CBS News |access-date=September 1, 2024 |archive-date=July 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701173032/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/poll-uncommitted-voters-say-romney-wins-debate/ |url-status=live }} After Obama's speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, the first lady was found through a CBS News/New York Times poll conducted in September to have a 61% favorably rating with registered voters, the highest percentage she had polled since April 2009.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/michelle-obama-ann-romney-get-positive-ratings-after-conventions|date=December 14, 2012|work=CBS News|title=Michelle Obama, Ann Romney get positive ratings after conventions|access-date=January 30, 2016|archive-date=July 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730140739/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michelle-obama-ann-romney-get-positive-ratings-after-conventions/|url-status=live}}
Obama aimed to humanize her husband by relating stories about him, attempting to appeal to female voters in swing states. Paul Harris of The Guardian said the same tactic was being used by Ann Romney, wife of 2012 Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Polls in October showed their husbands tied at 47% for the female vote. However, Michelle Obama's favorability ratings remained higher than Ann Romney's at 69% to 52%.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/26/michelle-obama-ann-romney-women|title=Michelle Obama and Ann Romney target female voters on campaign trail|date=October 26, 2012|first=Paul|last=Harris|work=The Guardian}} Despite Obama's higher poll numbers, comparisons between Obama and Romney were repeatedly made by the media until the election.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2012/10/21/michelle-obama-and-ann-romney-compare-and-contrast/|title=Michelle Obama and Ann Romney: Compare and contrast|first=Ann|last=Groer|date=October 21, 2012|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=January 30, 2016|archive-date=February 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206230719/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2012/10/21/michelle-obama-and-ann-romney-compare-and-contrast/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://nymag.com/thecut/2012/11/ann-romney-vs-michelle-obama-2-women-30-days.html|title=Ann Romney Versus Michelle Obama: Two Women, 30 Days|first=Charlotte|last=Cowles|date=November 6, 2012|publisher=nymag.com|access-date=January 30, 2016|archive-date=February 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205235251/http://nymag.com/thecut/2012/11/ann-romney-vs-michelle-obama-2-women-30-days.html|url-status=live}} But, as Michelle Cottle of Newsweek wrote, "...{{spaces}}nobody votes for first lady."{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/battle-first-ladies-michelle-obama-vs-ann-romney-63859|title=BATTLE OF THE FIRST LADIES: MICHELLE OBAMA VS. ANN ROMNEY|date=November 9, 2012|first=Michelle|last=Cottle|work=Newsweek|access-date=January 30, 2016|archive-date=February 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203082544/http://www.newsweek.com/battle-first-ladies-michelle-obama-vs-ann-romney-63859|url-status=live}}
First Lady of the United States (2009–2017)
During her early months as First Lady, Obama visited homeless shelters and soup kitchens. She also sent representatives to schools and advocated public service.{{cite web|last=Alter|first=Jonathan|date=March 7, 2009|title=An Army of Changemakers|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/188270|work=Newsweek|access-date=April 6, 2009|archive-date=April 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404081638/http://www.newsweek.com/id/188270|url-status=live}}
Obama advocated for her husband's policy priorities by promoting bills that support it. She hosted a White House reception for women's rights advocates in celebration of the enactment of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 Pay equity law. She supported the economic stimulus bill in visits to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and United States Department of Education. Some observers looked favorably upon her legislative activities, while others said she should be less involved in politics. According to her representatives, she intended to visit all United States Cabinet-level agencies in order to get acquainted with Washington.{{cite news|last=Swarns|first=Rachel L.|date=February 7, 2009|title={{-'}}Mom in Chief' Touches on Policy; Tongues Wag|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/us/politics/08michelle.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 8, 2009|archive-date=April 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417075817/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/us/politics/08michelle.html|url-status=live}}
File:US Army 53373 First Lady Embarks on Mission to Help Military Families.jpg
On June 5, 2009, the White House announced that Michelle Obama was replacing her then chief of staff, Jackie Norris, with Susan Sher, a longtime friend and adviser. Norris became a senior adviser to the Corporation for National and Community Service.{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/06/05/Michelle-Obama-gets-new-chief-of-staff/UPI-61071244180466/|title=Michelle Obama gets new chief of staff|access-date=July 27, 2009|date=June 5, 2009|work=United Press International|archive-date=June 8, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608062443/http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/06/05/Michelle-Obama-gets-new-chief-of-staff/UPI-61071244180466|url-status=live}} Another key aide, Spelman College alumna Kristen Jarvis, served from 2008 until 2015, when she left to become chief of staff to the Ford Foundation president Darren Walker.
In 2009, Obama was named Barbara Walters's Most Fascinating Person of the year.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/michelle-obama-named-1012998/|title=Michelle Obama Named "Most Fascinating" Person of 2009|author=Joyce Eng|date=December 10, 2009|work=TV Guide|access-date=December 20, 2015|archive-date=July 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730140501/https://www.tvguide.com/news/michelle-obama-named-1012998/|url-status=live}} In her memoir, Becoming, Obama describes her four primary initiatives as first lady: Let's Move!, Reach Higher,{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ReachHigher|title=Reach Higher (@ReachHigher)|via=Twitter|access-date=January 11, 2019|archive-date=January 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127012558/https://twitter.com/ReachHigher|url-status=live}} Let Girls Learn,{{Cite web|url=https://www.usaid.gov/letgirlslearn|title=Let Girls Learn|website=usaid.gov|access-date=January 11, 2019|archive-date=January 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109063531/https://www.usaid.gov/letgirlslearn|url-status=dead}} and Joining Forces.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/JoiningForces|title=Joining Forces (@JoiningForces)|via=Twitter|access-date=January 11, 2019|archive-date=December 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221123001/https://twitter.com/JoiningForces|url-status=live}} Some initiatives of First Lady Michelle Obama included advocating on behalf of military families, helping working women balance career and family, encouraging national service, and promoting the arts and arts education.{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/first-lady-michelle-obama/|title=First Lady Michelle Obama|access-date=April 6, 2010|publisher=WhiteHouse.gov| url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407154631/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/first-lady-michelle-obama|archive-date=April 7, 2010}} Obama made supporting military families and spouses a personal mission and increasingly bonded with military families. According to her aides, stories of the sacrifice these families make moved her to tears.{{cite web|last=Walsh|first=Kenneth T.|date=March 26, 2009|url=https://www.usnews.com/articles/news/obama/2009/03/26/michelle-obama-makes-military-families-her-mission.html|title=Michelle Obama Makes Military Families Her Mission: The first lady is often moved by accounts of personal sacrifice by service families|access-date=April 7, 2009|work=U.S. News & World Report|archive-date=March 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330074250/http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/obama/2009/03/26/michelle-obama-makes-military-families-her-mission.html|url-status=live}} In April 2012, Obama and her husband were awarded the Jerald Washington Memorial Founders' Award by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV). The award is the highest honor given to homeless veteran advocates.{{cite news|title=President Obama, Michelle Obama Receive Highest Award in Homeless Veteran Advocacy|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/27/veteran-homelessness-barack-obama_n_1459433.html|access-date=August 16, 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=April 27, 2012|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924155405/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/27/veteran-homelessness-barack-obama_n_1459433.html|url-status=live}}
Obama was again honored with the award in May 2015, accepting with Jill Biden.{{cite press release|title=Michelle Obama And Dr. Jill Biden To Receive 2015 Jerald Washington Memorial Founders' Award For Efforts To End Veteran Homelessness|publisher=PR Newswire|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/michelle-obama-and-dr-jill-biden-to-receive-2015-jerald-washington-memorial-founders-award-for-efforts-to-end-veteran-homelessness-300085779.html|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-date=September 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906091242/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/michelle-obama-and-dr-jill-biden-to-receive-2015-jerald-washington-memorial-founders-award-for-efforts-to-end-veteran-homelessness-300085779.html|url-status=live}}
File:Michelle-obama-bringbackourgirls.jpg
In November 2013, a Politico article by Michelle Cottle accusing Obama of being a "feminist nightmare" for not using her position and education to advocate for women's issues was sharply criticized across the political spectrum.{{cite web|last=Cottle|first=Michelle|date=November 13, 2013|title=Leaning Out: How Michelle Obama became a feminist nightmare|url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2013/11/leaning-out-michelle-obama-100244.html#ixzz2lRZasMzN|work=Politico|access-date=November 25, 2013|archive-date=November 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131125162618/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2013/11/leaning-out-michelle-obama-100244.html#ixzz2lRZasMzN|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/michelle-obama-no-ones-feminist-nightmare|title=Michelle Obama a 'feminist nightmare'? Please.|last=Harris-Perry|first=Melissa|date=November 23, 2013|publisher=MSNBC|access-date=February 23, 2015|archive-date=February 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224064300/http://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/michelle-obama-no-ones-feminist-nightmare|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/flunking-feminism-why-michelle-obama-keeps-playing-it-safe|title=Flunking Feminism? Why Michelle Obama keeps playing it safe|author=Howard Kurtz|work=Fox News|date=November 25, 2013|access-date=November 25, 2013|archive-date=November 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107094201/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/flunking-feminism-why-michelle-obama-keeps-playing-it-safe|url-status=live}} Cottle quoted Linda Hirshman saying of Obama's trendy styles, promotion of gardening and healthy eating, and support of military families that "She essentially became the English lady of the manor, Tory Party, circa 1830s." A prominent critic of Cottle was MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry, who rhetorically asked "Are you serious?" Supporters of Obama note that the first lady had been one of the only people in the administration to address obesity, through promoting good eating habits, which is one of the leading U.S. public health crises.{{cite web|last=Shen|first=Aviva|date=November 22, 2013|url=http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/11/22/2983381/michelle-obama-feminism-womens-work/|title=Michelle Obama Derided For Being A 'Feminist Nightmare{{'-}}|publisher=ThinkProgress.org|access-date=November 25, 2013|archive-date=November 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131124215610/http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/11/22/2983381/michelle-obama-feminism-womens-work/|url-status=live}}
In May 2014, Obama joined the campaign to bring back school girls who had been kidnapped in Nigeria. The first lady tweeted a picture of herself holding a poster with the #bringbackourgirls campaign hashtag.{{cite news|last=Dearden|first=Lizzie|date=May 8, 2014|title=Bring Back Our Girls: Michelle Obama and Malala Yousafzai support campaign for return of kidnapped Nigeria schoolgirls|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/nigeria-kidnapped-schoolgirls-michelle-obama-joins-campaign-9336983.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/nigeria-kidnapped-schoolgirls-michelle-obama-joins-campaign-9336983.html |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=July 21, 2014|work=The Independent}} Obama writes in her book about enlisting help for her initiative Let Girls Learn to produce and sing the song "This is for My Girls".{{Cite magazine|last=Leight|first=Elias|date=July 21, 2016|title=Watch Michelle Obama, Missy Elliott in 'Carpool Karaoke'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-michelle-obama-missy-elliott-sing-rap-in-carpool-karaoke-92148/|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=January 11, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306153505/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-michelle-obama-missy-elliott-sing-rap-in-carpool-karaoke-92148/|url-status=live}}
File:La primera dama Michelle Obama (25709737510).jpg
Over the course of the Obama presidency, particularly during the second term, Michelle Obama was subject to speculation over whether she would run for the presidency herself, similarly to predecessor Hillary Clinton.{{cite news|last=Medved|first=Michael|date=June 23, 2011|title=Barack Obama or Michelle Obama Could Run For President in 2016 and Beyond|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/06/23/barack-obama-or-michelle-obama-could-run-for-president-in-2016-and-beyond.html|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=March 19, 2016|archive-date=March 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328133721/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/06/23/barack-obama-or-michelle-obama-could-run-for-president-in-2016-and-beyond.html|url-status=live}} A May 2015 Rasmussen poll found Obama had 22% of support to Clinton's 56% of winning the Democratic nomination, higher than that of potential candidates Elizabeth Warren, Martin O'Malley, and Bernie Sanders.{{cite news|last=Zimmerman|first=Neetzan|date=May 14, 2015|title=Poll: Michelle Obama would be Hillary's strongest Dem rival in 2016|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news-campaigns/242068-poll-michelle-obama-would-be-hillarys-strongest-dem/|work=The Hill|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=May 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518000405/https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news-campaigns/242068-poll-michelle-obama-would-be-hillarys-strongest-dem/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/may_2015/what_if_michelle_obama_challenged_hillary_clinton_for_the_democratic_nomination|title=What If Michelle Obama Challenged Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Nomination?|date=May 14, 2015|publisher=rasmussenreports.com}} Another poll that month found that 71% of Americans believed Obama should not run for the presidency, only 14% approving. On January 14, 2016, during a town-hall meeting, President Obama was asked if the first lady could be talked into running. He responded, "There are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes, and Michelle is not running for president. That I can tell you."{{cite news|last=Boyer|first=Dave|date=January 14, 2016|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jan/14/michelle-obama-wont-run-president-barack-says/|title=Michelle Obama won't run for president, Barack says|access-date=March 18, 2016|archive-date=March 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319020918/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jan/14/michelle-obama-wont-run-president-barack-says/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-are-the-chances-michelle-obama-will-run-for-president/|title=What are the chances Michelle Obama will run for president?|first=Rebecca|last=Shabad|access-date=March 18, 2016|archive-date=March 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317040953/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-are-the-chances-michelle-obama-will-run-for-president/|url-status=live}} On March 16, 2016, while speaking in Austin, Texas, Obama denied that she would ever run for the office, citing a desire to "impact as many people as possible in an unbiased way".{{cite news|last=Watkins|first=Eli|date=March 16, 2016|title=Michelle Obama: 'I will not run for president'|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/16/politics/michelle-obama-president-sxsw/|work=CNN|access-date=March 17, 2016|archive-date=March 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320162959/http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/16/politics/michelle-obama-president-sxsw/?|url-status=live}} In the epilogue to Becoming, Obama writes, "I have no intention of running for office, ever,"{{Cite web|last=Harvard|first=Sarah|date=November 17, 2018|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/michelle-obama-jimmy-kimmel-live-becoming-running-political-office-not-something-a8638881.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/michelle-obama-jimmy-kimmel-live-becoming-running-political-office-not-something-a8638881.html |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Michelle Obama on running for political office: 'It's not something I would ever do'|website=The Independent|location=New York|access-date=December 30, 2019}} recognizing that "politics can be a means for positive change, but this arena is just not for me."{{cite book | last=Obama | first=Michelle | title=Becoming | publisher=Crown | publication-place=New York | date=2018-11-13 | edition=1st | isbn=978-1-5247-6313-8 | oclc=1030413521}}
= Let's Move! =
{{Main|Let's Move!}}
Obama's predecessors Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush supported the organic movement by instructing the White House kitchens to buy organic food. Obama extended their support of healthy eating by planting the White House Kitchen Garden, an organic garden, the first White House vegetable garden since Eleanor Roosevelt served as First Lady. She also had bee hives installed on the South Lawn of the White House. The garden supplied organic produce and honey for the meals of the First Family and for state dinners and other official gatherings.{{cite web|last=Bedard|first=Paul|date=March 28, 2009|title=Michelle Obama Goes Organic and Brings in the Bees|url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/3/28/michelle-obama-goes-organic-and-brings-in-the-bees.html|access-date=April 7, 2009|work=U.S. News & World Report |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401152253/http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/3/28/michelle-obama-goes-organic-and-brings-in-the-bees.html |archive-date=April 1, 2009 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/19/AR2009031902886.html|title=Shovel-Ready Project: A White House Garden|last=Black|first=Jane|date=March 20, 2009|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 3, 2009|archive-date=February 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204153012/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/19/AR2009031902886.html|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|date=June 17, 2009|title=White House Photo Blog: Wednesday, June 17, 2009: First Garden|url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/whitehouse/photos/0,27424,1905324,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620232842/http://www.time.com/time/politics/whitehouse/photos/0,27424,1905324,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 20, 2009|access-date=April 7, 2010|magazine=Time}}
File:Obama-DeGeneres-dance-20120201.jpg dance on the second anniversary of Let's Move!]]
In January 2010, Obama undertook her first lead role in an administration-wide initiative, which she named "Let's Move!", to make progress in reversing the 21st-century trend of childhood obesity.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/us/14michelle.html|title=After a Year of Learning, the First Lady Seeks Out a Legacy|access-date=April 6, 2010|date=January 14, 2010|page=A20|work=The New York Times|author=Stolberg, Sheryl Gay|archive-date=February 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211045902/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/us/14michelle.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Darensbourg |first=Lauren |url=http://letsmove.gov/ |title=Let's Move! |publisher=Letsmove.gov |date=May 27, 2011 |access-date=August 10, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820100201/http://www.letsmove.gov/ |archive-date=August 20, 2011 }} On February 9, 2010, the first lady announced Let's Move! and President Barack Obama created the Task Force on Childhood Obesity to review all current programs and create a national plan for change.{{cite web|url=http://www.letsmove.gov/white-house-task-force-childhood-obesity-report-president |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110413064800/http://www.letsmove.gov/white-house-task-force-childhood-obesity-report-president |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 13, 2011 |title=White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity Report to the President |publisher=Letsmove.gov |access-date=December 15, 2012 }}
Michelle Obama said her goal was to make this effort her legacy: "I want to leave something behind that we can say, 'Because of this time that this person spent here, this thing has changed.' And my hope is that that's going to be in the area of childhood obesity." Her 2012 book American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America is based on her experiences with the garden and promotes healthy eating.{{cite news|last=Benac|first=Nancy|title=Michelle Obama's Book on Growing Seeds and Healthy Kids|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20120601/NEWS/120609973|newspaper=The Ledger|date=June 1, 2012|agency=Associated Press|access-date=June 3, 2012|archive-date=March 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324143636/http://www.theledger.com/article/20120601/NEWS/120609973|url-status=live}} Her call for action on healthy eating was repeated by the United States Department of Defense, which has been facing an ever-expanding problem of obesity among recruits.Daniel, Lisa [http://www.defense.gov//news/newsarticle.aspx?id=117228 "Family Matters: Tackling Obesity, for Security's Sake."] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714203727/http://www.defense.gov/ |date=July 14, 2012 }} DoD, July 23, 2012.
Several Republicans have critiqued or lampooned Obama's initiative. In October 2014, senator Rand Paul linked to Michelle Obama's Twitter account when announcing on the website that he was going to Dunkin' Donuts.{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/oct/17/rand-paul-to-michelle-obama-look-at-me-im-at-dunki/|title=Rand Paul to Michelle Obama: Look at me – I'm at Dunkin' Donuts|date=October 17, 2014|newspaper=Washington Times|first=Cheryl K.|last=Chumley|access-date=March 15, 2016|archive-date=March 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315103157/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/oct/17/rand-paul-to-michelle-obama-look-at-me-im-at-dunki/|url-status=live}}
In January 2016, Chris Christie, Republican governor of New Jersey and presidential candidate, criticized the first lady's involvement with healthy eating while he was campaigning in Iowa, arguing that she was using the government to exercise her views on eating.{{cite news|last=Chasmar|first=Jessica|date=January 19, 2016|title=Chris Christie: Michelle Obama 'has no business' meddling in school lunches|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jan/19/chris-christie-michelle-obama-has-no-business-medd/|newspaper=Washington Times|access-date=January 30, 2016|archive-date=February 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202143843/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jan/19/chris-christie-michelle-obama-has-no-business-medd/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Gunlock|first=Julie|date=January 21, 2016|title=Christie Takes a Tougher Tone against Michelle Obama's School-Lunch Reforms|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/430115/chris-christie-criticizes-michelle-obamas-school-lunches|work=National Review|access-date=January 30, 2016|archive-date=February 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204225513/http://www.nationalreview.com/article/430115/chris-christie-criticizes-michelle-obamas-school-lunches|url-status=live}} Obama had previously cited Christie as an example of an adult who struggled with obesity, a demographic that she sought to diminish by targeting children since Let's Move! was "working with kids when they're young, so that they don't have these direct challenges when they get older."{{cite news|last=Camia|first=Catalina|date=May 8, 2013|title=Michelle Obama: Chris Christie is 'terrific'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2013/05/08/michelle-obama-chris-christie-weight-loss/2144981/|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=March 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326204313/https://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2013/05/08/michelle-obama-chris-christie-weight-loss/2144981/|url-status=live}} In February, Senator Ted Cruz said that he would end Obama's health policies and return french fries to school cafeterias if his wife were first lady.{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Takes Shot at First Lady Michelle Obama|url=http://www.mediaite.com/online/ted-cruz-takes-shot-at-first-lady-michelle-obama/|work=mediaite.com|date=February 1, 2016}}
= LGBT rights =
In the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign, Obama boasted to gay Democratic groups of her husband's record on LGBT rights: his support of the Illinois Human Rights Act, the Illinois gender violence act, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, repealing the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, and full repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, civil unions; along with hate crimes protection for sexual orientation and gender identity and renewed effort to fight HIV and AIDS. They have both opposed amendments proposed to ban same-sex marriage in the federal, California, and Florida constitutions. She said that the U.S. Supreme Court delivered justice in the Lawrence v. Texas case, and she drew a connection between the struggles for gay rights and civil rights by saying, "We are all only here because of those who marched and bled and died, from Selma to Stonewall, in the pursuit of a more perfect union."{{cite news |last=Wulfhorst |first=Ellen |date=June 27, 2008 |url=http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2008/06/26/michelle-obama-speaks-to-gay-democrats/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321071320/http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2008/06/26/michelle-obama-speaks-to-gay-democrats|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 21, 2013|title=Michelle Obama speaks to gay Democrats|work=Reuters|access-date=January 22, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/06/the-audacity-of-hope-from-selm.php|title=The audacity of hope – 'from Selma to Stonewall'|access-date=January 22, 2013|work=TMP|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307001621/http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/06/the-audacity-of-hope-from-selm.php|archive-date=March 7, 2009}}{{cite news|title=Michelle Obama Speaks to LGBT Delegates at Convention Lunch|url=http://www.towleroad.com/2008/08/michelle-obama.html|access-date=January 22, 2013|date=August 27, 2008|work=Towleroad|archive-date=March 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318044028/http://www.towleroad.com/2008/08/michelle-obama.html|url-status=live}}
After the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell on September 20, 2011, Obama included openly gay service members in her national military families initiative.{{cite news|title=Michelle Obama Welcomes Gay Families to National Military Initiative|url=http://www.advocate.com/news/daily-news/2011/09/19/michelle-obama-welcomes-gay-families-national-initiative|access-date=January 22, 2013|date=September 19, 2011|work=The Advocate|archive-date=June 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621052523/http://www.advocate.com/news/daily-news/2011/09/19/michelle-obama-welcomes-gay-families-national-initiative|url-status=live}} On May 9, 2012, Barack and Michelle Obama came out publicly in favor of same-sex marriage. Prior to this, Michelle Obama had never publicly stated her position on this issue. Senior White House officials said Michelle Obama and Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett had been the two most consistent advocates for same-sex marriage in Barack Obama's life.{{cite news |last=Haberman |first=Maggie |date=May 9, 2012 |title=Jarrett, Michelle Obama pushed for gay marriage |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/05/jarrett-michelle-obama-pushed-for-gay-marriage-123021.html |access-date=May 9, 2012 |work=Politico |archive-date=May 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513131711/http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/05/jarrett-michelle-obama-pushed-for-gay-marriage-123021.html |url-status=live }} Michelle said:
This is an important issue for millions of Americans, and for Barack and me, it really comes down to the values of fairness and equality we want to pass down to our girls. These are basic values that kids learn at a very young age and that we encourage them to apply in all areas of their lives. And in a country where we teach our children that everyone is equal under the law, discriminating against same-sex couples just isn't right. It's as simple as that.{{cite news|title=Michelle Obama Supports Marriage Equality So That 'Everyone Is Equal Under The Law{{'-}}|url=http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/06/01/494027/michelle-obama-supports-marriage-equality-because-everyone-is-equal-under-the-law/|access-date=January 22, 2013|date=June 1, 2012|work=Washington Wire|archive-date=October 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015204941/http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/06/01/494027/michelle-obama-supports-marriage-equality-because-everyone-is-equal-under-the-law/|url-status=live}}
At the 2012 DNC, Michelle said, "Barack knows the American Dream because he's lived it{{spaces}}... and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we're from, or what we look like, or who we love."{{cite news|title=Michelle Obama, Rahm Emanuel Make Gay Marriage a Selling Point at Convention|url=http://adage.com/article/campaign-trail/michelle-rahm-embrace-gay-marriage-speeches/237022/|access-date=January 22, 2013|date=September 5, 2012|work=Advertising Age|archive-date=June 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619042101/http://adage.com/article/campaign-trail/michelle-rahm-embrace-gay-marriage-speeches/237022/|url-status=live}}
= Domestic travels =
File:Obama heads to Selma for 50th anniversary speech 150307-F-WU507-020.jpg, Michelle Obama and President Obama behind them, on March 7, 2015.]]
In May 2009, Obama delivered the commencement speech at a graduating ceremony at UC Merced in Merced County, California, the address being praised afterward by students who found her relatable. Kevin Fagan of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote that there was chemistry between Obama and the students.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Michelle-Obama-inspires-UC-Merced-graduates-3232952.php|title=Michelle Obama inspires UC Merced graduates|date=May 17, 2009|first=Kevin|last=Fagan|access-date=March 14, 2016|archive-date=March 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315115928/http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Michelle-Obama-inspires-UC-Merced-graduates-3232952.php|url-status=live}}
In August 2013, Obama attended the 50th anniversary ceremony for the March on Washington at the Lincoln Memorial. Positive attention was brought to Obama's attire, a black sleeveless dress with red flowers, designed by Tracy Reese.{{cite news|url=http://fashionista.com/2013/08/michelle-obama-wears-tracy-reese-to-commemorate-martin-luther-king-jrs-historic-march-on-washington|title=Michelle Obama Wears Tracy Reese To Commemorate March On Washington|publisher=fashionista.com|date=August 28, 2013|first=Tyler|last=McCall}}{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/fashion/alltherage/la-ar-michelle-obama-tracy-reese-march-on-washington-20130828-story.html|title=Michelle Obama wears Tracy Reese at March on Washington commemoration|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|first=Susan|last=Denley|access-date=December 14, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222095443/http://www.latimes.com/fashion/alltherage/la-ar-michelle-obama-tracy-reese-march-on-washington-20130828-story.html|url-status=live}} Reese reacted by releasing a public statement that she was honored the first lady "would choose to wear one of our designs during the celebration of such a deeply significant historical moment".{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/08/28/michelle-obama-stands-out-in-tracy-reeses-flowers/2724623/|title=Michelle Obama shines in Tracy Reese's flowers|date=August 28, 2013|work=USA Today|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=March 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326205453/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/08/28/michelle-obama-stands-out-in-tracy-reeses-flowers/2724623/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/08/28/michelle-obama-march-on-washington-dress-pics-tracy-reese/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828213341/http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/08/28/michelle-obama-march-on-washington-dress-pics-tracy-reese/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 28, 2013|title=Michelle Obama Stuns for the March on Washington Anniversary|publisher=Hollywood Life|date=August 28, 2013|first=Katrina|last=Mitzeliotis}}
In March 2015, Obama traveled to Selma, Alabama, with her family to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches.{{cite news|url=http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2015/03/selma_50th_anniversary_jubilee.html|title=Selma 50th anniversary jubilee: President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, 100 members Congress converge|date=March 7, 2015|publisher=gulflive.com|access-date=December 13, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222135435/http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2015/03/selma_50th_anniversary_jubilee.html|url-status=live}} After President Obama's remarks there, the Obamas joined original marchers, including John Lewis, in crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge.{{cite news|last=Mason|first=Jeff|date=March 7, 2015|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-civil-rights-selma-idUSKBN0M30KB20150308#xYJrgmIQUdjPZfRE.97|title=On Selma anniversary, Obama says racial progress made but more needed|publisher=Reuters|access-date=July 1, 2017|archive-date=April 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422074950/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-civil-rights-selma-idUSKBN0M30KB20150308#xYJrgmIQUdjPZfRE.97|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Workneh|first=Lilly|date=March 7, 2015|title=President Obama, First Family Lead The Way in Historic March Across Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/07/obama-selma-bridge-march_n_6823938.html|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=December 13, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222082525/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/07/obama-selma-bridge-march_n_6823938.html|url-status=live}}
In July 2015, Obama journeyed to Coachella Valley while coming to Los Angeles for that year's Special Olympics World Games.{{cite news |last=Atagi |first=Colin |date=July 27, 2015 |url=http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/politics/2015/07/26/michelle-obama-special-olympics/30702011/|title=Michelle Obama visits Coachella Valley|publisher=The Desert Sun}}
In October 2015, Obama was joined by Jill Biden and Prince Harry in visiting a military base in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in an attempt on the prince's part to raise awareness to programs supporting harmed service members.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/prince-harry-us_us_5630fe11e4b00aa54a4c2f05|title=Prince Harry Visits Virginia Military Base With Michelle Obama, Jill Biden|date=October 28, 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|access-date=March 27, 2016|archive-date=April 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408165100/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/prince-harry-us_us_5630fe11e4b00aa54a4c2f05|url-status=live}} In December 2015, Obama traveled with her husband to San Bernardino, California, to meet with families of the victims of a terrorist attack that occurred two weeks earlier.{{cite news|title=President Obama, First Lady Meet With Families of Victims in San Bernardino Terror Attack|url=http://ktla.com/2015/12/18/president-obama-first-lady-to-visit-san-bernardino-victims-families/|date=December 18, 2015|publisher=ktla.com|access-date=December 19, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222144305/http://ktla.com/2015/12/18/president-obama-first-lady-to-visit-san-bernardino-victims-families/|url-status=live}}
= Foreign trips =
File:Michelle Obama at National Craft Museum, Delhi, 2010.jpg
On April 1, 2009, Obama met with Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace. Obama embraced her before attending an event with world leaders.{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2009/0402/michelle-obama-hugs-queen-breaks-royal-protocol|title=Michelle Obama hugs Queen – breaks royal protocol!|first=Jimmy|last=Orr|work=The Christian Science Monitor|date=April 2, 2009|access-date=March 15, 2016|archive-date=March 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315085726/http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2009/0402/michelle-obama-hugs-queen-breaks-royal-protocol|url-status=live}} Obama praised her, though the hug generated controversy for being out of protocol when greeting Elizabeth.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/g20-summit/5091915/Michelle-Obama-hugs-the-Queen.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/g20-summit/5091915/Michelle-Obama-hugs-the-Queen.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Michelle Obama hugs the Queen|date=April 2, 2009|newspaper=The Telegraph|first=Murray|last= Wardrop}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna30017148|title=Michelle Obama charms Britain, hugs queen|publisher=NBC News|date=April 2, 2009|access-date=August 3, 2024|archive-date=December 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223124940/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna30017148|url-status=live}}
In April 2010, Obama traveled to Mexico, her first solo visit to a nation.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/12/AR2010041202607.html|title=Robin Givhan examines Michelle Obama's first trip abroad alone|first=Robin|last=Givhan|date=April 13, 2010|newspaper=The Washington Post}} In Mexico, Obama spoke to students, encouraging them to take responsibility for their futures.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/world/americas/15firstlady.html?_r=0|title=Mexico Embraces Michelle Obama|date=April 14, 2010|first=Marc|last=Lacey|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=March 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326202642/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/world/americas/15firstlady.html?_r=0|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/13/obama.mexico/index.html|title=First lady Obama arrives in Mexico|date=April 14, 2010|work=CNN|access-date=January 3, 2016|archive-date=January 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112010836/http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/13/obama.mexico/index.html|url-status=live}} Referring to the underprivileged children, Obama argued that "potential can be found in some of the most unlikely places," citing herself and her husband as examples.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/14/AR2010041403709.html|title=The age of youth: Traveling abroad, first lady Michelle Obama makes kids Topic 1|first=Robin|last=Givhan|date=April 15, 2010|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=August 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825173311/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/14/AR2010041403709.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/lady-michelle-obama-mexico-safe-travel/story?id=10377081|title=First Lady Michelle Obama Says Mexico Still Safe for Travel|date=April 14, 2010|work=ABC News|access-date=June 28, 2020|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804011345/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/lady-michelle-obama-mexico-safe-travel/story?id=10377081|url-status=live}}
Obama traveled to Africa for the second official trip in June 2011, touring Johannesburg, Cape Town and Botswana and meeting with Graça Machel. Obama was also involved with community events in the foreign countries.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/06/20/michelle.obama.africa/|title=Michelle Obama and her daughters arrive in South Africa|work=CNN|date=June 20, 2011|access-date=January 8, 2016|archive-date=January 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112010836/http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/06/20/michelle.obama.africa/|url-status=live}} It was commented by White House staff that her trip to Africa would advance the foreign policy of her husband.{{cite news|last=Mason|first=Jeffery|date=June 21, 2011|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/06/21/154146.html|title=Michelle Obama arrives in Africa, her second solo trip abroad as US First Lady|publisher=Al Arabiya News|access-date=January 8, 2016|archive-date=January 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112010836/http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/06/21/154146.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Thompson|first=Krissah|date=June 25, 2011|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/44/post/michelle-obama-in-africa/2011/06/17/AGokaGZH_blog.html|title=First family goes on safari in South Africa|access-date=January 8, 2016|archive-date=January 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112010836/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/44/post/michelle-obama-in-africa/2011/06/17/AGokaGZH_blog.html|url-status=live}}
In March 2014, Obama visited China along with her two daughters Malia and Sasha, and her mother Marian Robinson. She met with Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese president Xi Jinping, visited historic and cultural sites, as well as a university and two high schools.{{cite news|title=First lady Michelle to visit China with daughters|url=http://www.chinanationalnews.com/index.php/sid/220316638/scat/9366300fc9319e9b/ht/First-lady-Michelle-to-visit-China-with-daughters|access-date=March 4, 2014|publisher=China National News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305092918/http://www.chinanationalnews.com/index.php/sid/220316638/scat/9366300fc9319e9b/ht/First-lady-Michelle-to-visit-China-with-daughters|archive-date=March 5, 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/first-lady-michelle-obama-travels-to-china/|title=First lady Michelle Obama faces scrutiny for China trip with daughters, mom|date=March 18, 2014|work=CBS News|access-date=November 28, 2015|archive-date=December 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208130131/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/first-lady-michelle-obama-travels-to-china/|url-status=live}} Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said the visit and intent in Obama journeying there was to symbolize "the relationship between the United States and China is not just between leaders, it's a relationship between peoples."{{cite news|last=Martinez|first=Michael|date=March 20, 2014|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/20/politics/michelle-obama-china/|title=Michelle Obama arrives in China for official visit|work=CNN}}{{cite news|last=MacLeod|first=Calum|date=March 22, 2014|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/21/michelle-beijing-china-visit/6685835/|title=In China, Michelle Obama calls for universal rights|work=USA Today|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=December 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223144717/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/21/michelle-beijing-china-visit/6685835/|url-status=live}}
In January 2015, Obama traveled to Saudi Arabia alongside her husband, following the death of King Abdullah. She received criticism for not covering her head in a nation where women are forbidden from publicly not doing so,{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/michelle-obama/11373787/Michelle-Obama-causes-outrage-in-Saudi-Arabia-by-not-wearing-headscarf.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/michelle-obama/11373787/Michelle-Obama-causes-outrage-in-Saudi-Arabia-by-not-wearing-headscarf.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|first=Andrew| last= Marszal|title=Michelle Obama causes outrage in Saudi Arabia by not wearing headscarf|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=January 28, 2015}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/01/28/first-lady-michelle-obama-catches-heat-for-choice-of-dress-in-saudi-arabia/|title=First Lady Michelle Obama Catches Heat For Outfit Choice in Saudi Arabia|publisher=CBS New York|date=January 28, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120102033/http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/01/28/first-lady-michelle-obama-catches-heat-for-choice-of-dress-in-saudi-arabia/ |archive-date= January 20, 2022 }} though Obama was defended for being a foreigner and thus not having to submit to Saudi Arabia's customs,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/amy-davidson/michelle-obama-doesnt-owe-anyone-head-scarf|title=Michelle Obama Doesn't Owe Anyone a Head Scarf|first=Amy| last=Davidson Sorkin|magazine=The New Yorker|date=January 28, 2015 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217065205/https://www.newyorker.com/news/amy-davidson/michelle-obama-doesnt-owe-anyone-head-scarf |archive-date= December 17, 2023 }} even being praised in some corners.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2015/01/27/michelle-obama-picks-loose-clothing-no-head-scarf-in-saudi-arabia/22403859/|title=Michelle Obama picks loose clothing, no scarf in Arabia|first=Maria|last=Puente|date=January 27, 2015|work=USA Today |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215223815/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2015/01/27/michelle-obama-picks-loose-clothing-no-head-scarf-in-saudi-arabia/22403859/ |archive-date= December 15, 2023 }} Obama was neither greeted nor acknowledged by King Salman during the encounter.{{cite news|last=Greenhouse|first=Emily|date=January 27, 2015|title=What Michelle Obama Didn't Wear in Saudi Arabia|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-01-28/what-michelle-obama-didn-t-wear-in-saudi-arabia|work=Bloomberg |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160207104357/https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-01-28/what-michelle-obama-didn-t-wear-in-saudi-arabia |archive-date= February 7, 2016 }}
File:President and First Lady Obama, With Saudi King Salman, Shake Hands With Members of the Saudi Royal Family.jpg of Saudi Arabia and members of the Saudi royal family, January 27, 2015]]
In June 2015, Obama undertook a weeklong trip to London and three Italian cities. In London, she spoke with students about international education for adolescent girls and met with both British prime minister David Cameron and Prince Harry. She was joined by her two daughters and mother.{{cite news|last=Superville|first=Darlene|date=June 12, 2015|title=Michelle Obama follows predecessors with foreign travel|url=https://news.yahoo.com/michelle-obama-follows-predecessors-foreign-travel-220044877--politics.html|agency=Associated Press |website=Yahoo News |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160305104744/https://news.yahoo.com/michelle-obama-follows-predecessors-foreign-travel-220044877--politics.html |archive-date= March 5, 2016 }} In November, she spent a week in Qatar, her first official visit to the Middle East. She continued advancing her initiative for international education for women by speaking at the 2015 World Innovation Summit for Education for her "Let Girls Learn" initiative in Doha, Qatar, and touring a school in Amman, Jordan, where she met with female students.{{cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/michelle-obama-promote-education-initiative-mideast-trip/3027025.html|title=Michelle Obama to Promote Education Initiative in Mideast Trip|date=October 28, 2015|publisher=Voice of America |agency=Associated Press |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112010836/http://www.voanews.com/content/michelle-obama-promote-education-initiative-mideast-trip/3027025.html |archive-date= January 12, 2016 }}{{cite web|title=5 Things to Know About Michelle Obama's Let Girls Learn Initiative|url=https://www.instyle.com/celebrity/michelle-obama-let-girls-learn-initiative|website=InStyle.com|access-date=February 22, 2019|archive-date=March 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329172753/https://www.instyle.com/celebrity/michelle-obama-let-girls-learn-initiative|url-status=live}} During the Qatar trip, Obama had intended to visit Jordan as well, but the trip was canceled due to weather conditions. In Jordan, Obama had intended to visit an Amman school that had been constructed with assistance from U.S. funds.{{cite news|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20151105-disappointed-michelle-obama-calls-off-jordan-trip |title='Disappointed' Michelle Obama calls off Jordan trip |work=France24 |date=November 5, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222111840/http://www.france24.com/en/20151105-disappointed-michelle-obama-calls-off-jordan-trip |archive-date=December 22, 2015 }}
In March 2016, Obama accompanied her husband and children to Cuba in a trip that was seen by the administration as having the possibility of positively impacting relations between the country and America.{{cite news|last1=Parsons|first1=Christi|last2=Wilkinson|first2=Tracy|date=March 18, 2016|title=Obama's Cuba visit to augur a 'new beginning' between nations|url=http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-obama-cuba-advance-20160318-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 20, 2016|archive-date=March 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320110126/http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-obama-cuba-advance-20160318-story.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Kimble|first=Lindsay|date=March 17, 2016|title=Malia and Sasha Obama Will Join the President and First Lady for Landmark Cuba Trip|url=http://www.people.com/article/barack-obama-michelle-cuba-trip|work=People|access-date=March 20, 2016|archive-date=March 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320021226/http://www.people.com/article/barack-obama-michelle-cuba-trip|url-status=live}} Later that month, the first couple and their daughters traveled to Argentina,{{cite news|last=Boyer|first=Dave|date=March 24, 2016|title=Obama brings two fuel-guzzlers to serve as Air Force One in Argentina|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/24/obama-takes-two-air-force-one-planes-argentina/|work=The Washington Times|access-date=March 26, 2016|archive-date=June 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628065401/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/24/obama-takes-two-air-force-one-planes-argentina/|url-status=live}} meeting with Argentine president Mauricio Macri.{{cite news|last=Feldman|first=Jamie|date=March 24, 2016|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/michelle-obama-tango-dress_us_56f3de28e4b0c3ef5217fc0a|title=Michelle Obama Tangos in a Magnificent Metallic Dress|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=March 26, 2016|archive-date=March 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326163032/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/michelle-obama-tango-dress_us_56f3de28e4b0c3ef5217fc0a|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Krol|first=Charlotte|date=March 24, 2016|title=Barack and Michelle Obama tango in Argentina|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/12202837/Barack-and-Michelle-Obama-tango-in-Argentina.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324084405/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/12202837/Barack-and-Michelle-Obama-tango-in-Argentina.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 24, 2016|newspaper=The Telegraph}}
= Midterm elections =
Obama campaigned for Democratic candidates in the 2010 midterm elections,{{cite news|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/battle-10/249397/bill-clinton-follow-michelle-obama-stumping-bennet-michael-sandoval|title=Bill Clinton to Follow Michelle Obama in Stumping for Bennet|first=Michael|last=Sandoval|date=October 11, 2010|work=National Review|access-date=January 9, 2016|archive-date=January 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112010836/http://www.nationalreview.com/battle-10/249397/bill-clinton-follow-michelle-obama-stumping-bennet-michael-sandoval|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/ken-walshs-washington/2014/07/28/michelle-obama-stumps-for-votes|title=Michelle Obama Stumps for Votes|publisher=US News|first=Kenneth T.|last=Walsh|date=July 28, 2014|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=March 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327005736/https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/ken-walshs-washington/2014/07/28/michelle-obama-stumps-for-votes|url-status=live}} making her debut on the campaign trail in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/14/us/politics/14michelle.html?_r=0|title=Michelle Obama Hits Campaign Trail With Soft-Sell Message|date=October 13, 2010|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Sheryl Gay|last= Stolberg}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/13/AR2010101302542.html|title=Michelle Obama hits campaign trail for Democrats|first=Nia-Malika|last=Henderson|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 13, 2010|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=March 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327084221/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/13/AR2010101302542.html|url-status=live}}
By the time she began campaigning, Obama's approval rating was 20 percentage points higher than her husband's.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/10/13/sweep.michelle.obama/|title=The Sweep: 'Reluctant warrior' Michelle Obama dives into midterms|first=Ed|last=Henry|date=October 13, 2010|work=CNN|access-date=January 9, 2016|archive-date=January 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112010836/http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/10/13/sweep.michelle.obama/|url-status=live}}
Though Obama indicated in January 2010 that a consensus had not been made about whether she would campaign,{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna34847099|title=Michelle Obama: No first-year do-overs|agency=Associated Press|date=January 13, 2010|publisher=NBC News|access-date=August 3, 2024|archive-date=December 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220031902/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna34847099|url-status=live}} speculation of her involvement came from her large approval rating as well as reports that she had been invited to speak at events with Democrats such as Barbara Boxer, Mary Jo Kilroy and Joe Sestak.{{cite news|url=http://www.rothenberggonzales.com/news/article/is-michelle-obama-democrats-secret-weapon|title=Is Michelle Obama Democrats' Secret Weapon?|publisher=Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales|date=August 17, 2010|first=Stuart|last=Rothenberg|access-date=January 9, 2016|archive-date=January 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112010836/http://www.rothenberggonzales.com/news/article/is-michelle-obama-democrats-secret-weapon|url-status=live}}
She toured seven states in two weeks within October 2010.{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/13/cnn-poll-two-thirds-give-first-lady-thumbs-up/|work=CNN|title=Two-thirds give first lady thumbs up|date=October 13, 2010|access-date=January 9, 2016|archive-date=January 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112010836/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/13/cnn-poll-two-thirds-give-first-lady-thumbs-up/|url-status=dead}} Aides reported that, though viewed as essential by the White House, she would not become deeply involved with political discussions nor engage Republicans in public disputes.{{cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/michelle-obama-campaigns-for-democrats-in-us-midterm-elections-104989329/174335.html|title=Michelle Obama Campaigns for Democrats in US Midterm Elections|first=Dan|last=Robinson|date=October 13, 2010|publisher=Voice of America|access-date=February 2, 2016|archive-date=February 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213180127/http://m.voanews.com/a/michelle-obama-campaigns-for-democrats-in-us-midterm-elections-104989329/174335.html|url-status=live}} After the elections, only six of the thirteen Democratic candidates Obama had campaigned for won. The Los Angeles Times concluded that while Obama was indeed more popular than her husband, her "election scorecard proved no better than his, particularly in her home state".{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-nov-06-la-na-michelle-obama-20101107-story.html|title=Michelle Obama's favored candidates: 6 wins, 7 losses|date=November 6, 2010|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|first1=Katherine|last1=Skiba|author2=Michael A. Memoli|access-date=August 15, 2024|archive-date=December 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220062923/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-nov-06-la-na-michelle-obama-20101107-story.html|url-status=live}}
Obama was a participant in the 2014 midterm elections, held at a time where her popularity superseded her husband's to such an extent that it was theorized she would receive a much larger outpour of support in campaigning. Reporting her travel to Denver, Colorado, David Lightman wrote that while Democrats did not want President Obama to campaign for them, "the first lady is very popular."{{cite news|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article24775189.html|date=October 23, 2014|publisher=McClatchyDC|title=While her husband is shunned, Michelle Obama hits campaign trail|first= David|last= Lightman}} In May 2014, Obama was found to have a 61% favorable approval rating from a CNN poll, her husband coming in at 43%. In a video released in July, as part of an effort to encourage voter turnout, she called on voters to be "hungry as you were back in 2008 and 2012".{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/michelle-obama-2014-midterms-be-hungry-democrats|first=Jane C.|last=Timm|title=Michelle Obama on 2014 midterms: Be hungry, Democrats|date=July 28, 2014|publisher=MSNBC|access-date=February 3, 2016|archive-date=February 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203122436/http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/michelle-obama-2014-midterms-be-hungry-democrats|url-status=live}} Obama appeared at a fundraiser in Georgia in September for Democratic senate candidate Michelle Nunn. Obama's approach to campaigning in Georgia strayed from discussing current events and instead broadly stressed the importance of registering to vote and turning out during the elections.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/08/politics/michelle-obama-georgia/index.html|title=Michelle Obama hits the campaign trail|first=Elizabeth|last=Hartfield|date=September 8, 2014|work=CNN|access-date=January 8, 2016|archive-date=January 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112010836/http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/08/politics/michelle-obama-georgia/index.html|url-status=live}} Obama's infrequent appearances came from her dislike of being away from her children and Washington politics as well as her distaste for the opposition by Republicans to her husband's agenda and her view that Democrats in the U.S. Senate had not sufficiently been supporters of her initiatives to end childhood obesity. Obama raised her profile in October,{{cite news|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2014/10/michelle_obama_in_detroit_stak.html|title=Michelle Obama in Detroit: Stakes could not be higher in midterm elections|publisher=mlive.com|first=Khalil|last=AlHajal|date=October 10, 2014|access-date=February 6, 2016|archive-date=February 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206131802/http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2014/10/michelle_obama_in_detroit_stak.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/michelle-obama-remains-distanced-from-2014-elections/article/2554389|first=Kelly|last=Cohen|title=Michelle Obama remains distanced from 2014 elections|date=October 4, 2014|work=Washington Examiner|access-date=February 6, 2016|archive-date=February 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207065443/http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/michelle-obama-remains-distanced-from-2014-elections/article/2554389|url-status=live}} touring three states in four days.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/04/us/as-michelle-obama-campaigns-some-democrats-fear-her-last-name-is-a-liability.html|title=Why Is First Lady Scarce in Campaign? Her Last Name Is Obama|first=Jackie|last=Calmes|date=October 3, 2014|newspaper=The New York Times}} Obama called the elections her husband's "last campaign".{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/michelle-obama-out-in-full-force-for-baracks-last-campaign/2014/11/03/ddbb2248-a51c-4590-9278-f071494009cd_story.html|first=Krissah|last=Thompson|title=Michelle Obama out in full force for 'Barack's last campaign'|date=November 3, 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=February 6, 2016|archive-date=February 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217053452/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/michelle-obama-out-in-full-force-for-baracks-last-campaign/2014/11/03/ddbb2248-a51c-4590-9278-f071494009cd_story.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/chi-first-lady-michelle-obama-in-chicago-to-raise-money-for-dems-20140723-story.html|title=First Lady Michelle Obama raises money for Democrats in Chicago|first=Rick|last=Pearson|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=July 24, 2014|access-date=February 6, 2016|archive-date=February 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207054440/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/chi-first-lady-michelle-obama-in-chicago-to-raise-money-for-dems-20140723-story.html|url-status=live}}
= Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign =
File:Michelle Obama at SNHU October 2016.jpg rally at Southern New Hampshire University, October 13, 2016.]]
Obama endorsed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and made several high-profile speeches in favor of her, including an address at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.{{cite web|last=Smith|first=David|date=July 26, 2016|title=Michelle Obama's stirring speech brings Democratic convention to tears|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/26/michelle-obama-convention-speech-female-president|work=The Guardian|access-date=September 8, 2018|archive-date=July 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724162723/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/26/michelle-obama-convention-speech-female-president|url-status=live}} She also appeared multiple times on the campaign trail in either solo or joint appearances with Clinton.{{cite news|last=Goldmacher|first=Shane|date=October 23, 2016|title=Michelle Obama to rally with Hillary Clinton in North Carolina|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/michelle-obama-hillary-clinton-230209|work=Politico|access-date=October 24, 2016|archive-date=October 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024152215/http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/michelle-obama-hillary-clinton-230209|url-status=live}} On October 13, 2016, Obama heavily criticized Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump for the statements he made in a 2005 audio recording while at a Clinton rally in Manchester, New Hampshire.{{cite news|last=Kludt|first=Tom|date=October 14, 2016|title=Michelle Obama denounces Trump for 'bragging about sexually assaulting women'|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/13/politics/michelle-obama-donald-trump-election-2016/|work=CNN}} A week later, Trump attempted to revive past comments Obama made in regard to Clinton during the 2008 presidential election.{{cite news|last=Dearden|first=Lizzie|date=October 22, 2016|title=Donald Trump attacks Michelle Obama over 'vicious' Hillary Clinton comments|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-elections/donald-trump-michelle-obama-comments-on-hillary-clinton-2007-barack-campaign-vicious-a7374966.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-elections/donald-trump-michelle-obama-comments-on-hillary-clinton-2007-barack-campaign-vicious-a7374966.html |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Independent}}{{cite news|last=Hook|first=Janet|date=October 21, 2016|title=Trump Hits at Michelle Obama, Cites Her 2008 Criticism of Clinton|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/10/21/trump-hits-at-michelle-obama-cites-her-2008-criticism-of-clinton/|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=August 4, 2017|archive-date=November 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119203427/https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/10/21/trump-hits-at-michelle-obama-cites-her-2008-criticism-of-clinton/|url-status=live}}
= Public image and style =
File:Obamas walk down PA Ave. 1-20-09 hires 090120-N-0696M-546a.jpg clothes made of St. Gallen Embroidery to the 2009 presidential inauguration.]]
With the ascent of her husband as a prominent national politician, Obama became a part of popular culture. In May 2006, Essence listed her among "25 of the World's Most Inspiring Women".{{cite web | url=http://www.biography.com/featured-biography/michelle-obama/index.jsp | title=Michelle Obama | access-date=April 5, 2009 | work=Biography.com | publisher=A&E Network | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325002829/http://www.biography.com/featured-biography/michelle-obama/index.jsp | archive-date=March 25, 2009}}{{cite news| url=http://style.uk.msn.com/fashion/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=10730465| title=First Lady style: Michelle Obama| publisher=U.K. MSN| access-date=April 5, 2009| date=April 2009| author=O'Neil, Nicole| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405004554/http://style.uk.msn.com/fashion/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=10730465| archive-date=April 5, 2009| url-status=dead}} In July 2007, Vanity Fair listed her among "10 of the World's Best Dressed People". She was an honorary guest at Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball as a "young'un" paying tribute to the "Legends" who helped pave the way for African-American women. In September 2007, 02138 magazine listed her 58th of "The Harvard 100"; a list of the prior year's most influential Harvard alumni. Her husband was ranked fourth.{{cite news |title= The Harvard 100|work=02138|date=September 2007}} In July 2008, she made a repeat appearance on the Vanity Fair international best dressed list.{{cite news|url=https://www.today.com/news/michelle-obama-makes-best-dressed-list-wbna25939033|title=Michelle Obama makes best-dressed list: For the second year in a row, Obama's style puts her on Vanity Fair's list|access-date=October 13, 2008|date=July 30, 2008|publisher=Today.com|archive-date=October 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030034305/https://www.today.com/news/michelle-obama-makes-best-dressed-list-wbna25939033|url-status=live}} She also appeared on the 2008 People list of best-dressed women and was praised by the magazine for her "classic and confident" look.{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ET_Cetera/Michelle_Obama_Best_dressed_women/articleshow/3496244.cms |title=Michelle Obama among 10 best dressed women: People magazine |access-date=April 4, 2009 |date=September 18, 2008 |work=The Economic Times |location=India |archive-date=September 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918115418/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ET_Cetera/Michelle_Obama_Best_dressed_women/articleshow/3496244.cms |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.accesshollywood.com/style/michelle-obama-rihanna-named-to-peoples-best-dressed-list_article_11297 |title=Michelle Obama, Rihanna Named To People's Best Dressed List |access-date=April 4, 2009 |date=September 17, 2008 |publisher=Access Hollywood |archive-date=April 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416031245/http://www.accesshollywood.com/style/michelle-obama-rihanna-named-to-peoples-best-dressed-list_article_11297 |url-status=live}}
At the time of her husband's election, some sources anticipated that as a high-profile African-American woman in a stable marriage Obama would be a positive role model who would influence the view the world has of African Americans.{{cite news |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/170383/page/1 |title=What Michelle Means to Us: We've never had a First Lady quite like Michelle Obama. How she'll change the world's image of African-American women – and the way we see ourselves. |access-date=January 9, 2009 |date=November 22, 2008 |work=Newsweek | author=Samuels, Allison |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216011443/http://www.newsweek.com/id/170383/page/1 |archive-date=December 16, 2008}}{{cite news |author=Fiori, Pamela |date=February 2009 |title=She's Got It! |work=Town & Country |pages=78–83 |url=http://img147.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=92323_Obama1_122_905lo.jpg |access-date=April 4, 2009 |archive-date=August 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814072536/http://img147.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=92323_Obama1_122_905lo.jpg |url-status=live}} Her fashion choices were part of the 2009 Fashion week,{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/186989|title=The New Black |access-date=April 7, 2009 |date=March 9, 2009 |work=Newsweek |author=Von Glinow, Kiki |archive-date=August 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813224246/http://www.newsweek.com/id/186989 |url-status=live}} but Obama's influence in the field did not have the impact on the paucity of African-American models who participate, that some thought it might.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/michelle-obama-diversifying-model-portfolios-not-so-much-221188|title=Is Michelle Obama Diversifying Model Portfolios? Not So Much|access-date=August 24, 2014|date=February 18, 2009|work=Newsweek|author=Soller, Kurt|archive-date=August 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115857/http://www.newsweek.com/michelle-obama-diversifying-model-portfolios-not-so-much-221188|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/fashion/13diary.html|title=Has the 'Obama Effect' Come to Runway Castings? |access-date=April 7, 2009 |date=February 13, 2009 |work=The New York Times |author=Trebay, Guy}}
Obama's public support grew in her early months as First Lady, as she was accepted as a role model.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/30/AR2009033003332.html |title=Michelle's Image: From Off-Putting To Spot-On |access-date=April 4, 2009 |date=March 31, 2009 |newspaper=The Washington Post |author=Romano, Lois |archive-date=November 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107101644/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/30/AR2009033003332.html |url-status=live}} On her first trip abroad in April 2009, she toured a cancer ward with Sarah Brown, wife of British prime minister Gordon Brown.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1889307,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404014720/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1889307,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 4, 2009|title=Michelle Obama Finds Her Role on the World Stage|access-date=April 6, 2009|date=April 2, 2009|magazine=Time|author=Scherer, Michael}} Newsweek described her first trip abroad as an exhibition of her "star power",{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/192394|title=Mixed Review|access-date=April 4, 2009|date=April 3, 2009|work=Newsweek|author=Stone, Daniel|archive-date=April 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405032322/http://www.newsweek.com/id/192394|url-status=live}} and MSN described it as a display of sartorial elegance. Questions were raised by some in the American and British media regarding protocol when the Obamas met Queen Elizabeth II{{cite magazine |author=Chua-Eoan, Howard |date=April 1, 2009|title=The Queen and Mrs. Obama: A Breach in Protocol |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1888962,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=April 6, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826141620/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1888962,00.html |archive-date=August 26, 2013}} and Michelle reciprocated a touch on her back by the Queen during a reception, purportedly against traditional royal etiquette.{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/touch-her-if-you-dare-211352 |title=Touch Her ... If You Dare |access-date=April 6, 2009 |date=April 2, 2009 |work=Newsweek |author=Bailey, Holly |archive-date=August 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115313/http://www.newsweek.com/touch-her-if-you-dare-211352 |url-status=live}} Palace sources denied that any breach in etiquette had occurred.{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/g-20-gossip-no-touching-please-211186 |title=G-20 Gossip: No Touching, Please |access-date=August 24, 2014 |date=April 1, 2009 |work=Newsweek |author=Bailey, Holly |archive-date=August 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826113241/http://www.newsweek.com/g-20-gossip-no-touching-please-211186 |url-status=live}}
File:Obamas arrive at Neighborhood Ball 1-20-09 090120-F-9629D-599.JPG]]
Obama has been compared to Jacqueline Kennedy due to her sense of style and also to Barbara Bush for her discipline and decorum.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/fashion/08michelle.html? |title=She Dresses to Win |access-date=October 13, 2008 |date=June 8, 2008 |work=The New York Times |author=Trebay, Guy |archive-date=December 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211040321/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/fashion/08michelle.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/70165|title=Ground Support: Michelle Obama Has Seemed Ambivalent About Barack's'08 Run. But She's Provided The Entree For Him To Give It A Go.|access-date=November 16, 2008|date=January 29, 2007|work=Newsweek|author1=Springen, Karen|author2=Jonathan Darman|name-list-style=amp|archive-date=May 31, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531154513/http://www.newsweek.com/id/70165|url-status=live}} Obama's style has been described as "fashion populist".{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/171275|title=Very Little in Common But That 'O'|access-date=January 9, 2009|date=November 29, 2008|work=Newsweek|author=Connolly, Katie|archive-date=December 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208112747/http://www.newsweek.com/id/171275|url-status=live}} In 2010, she wore clothes, many high end, from more than fifty design companies with less expensive pieces from J.Crew and Target, and the same year a study found that her patronage was worth an average of $14{{spaces}}million to a company.{{cite news|author=Horyn, Cathy|title=First in Fashion|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/30/fashion/michelle-obama-first-in-fashion.html|date=December 28, 2012|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 15, 2013|archive-date=March 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315132654/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/30/fashion/michelle-obama-first-in-fashion.html|url-status=live}} She became a fashion trendsetter, in particular favoring sleeveless dresses, including her first-term official portrait in a dress by Michael Kors and her ball gowns designed by Jason Wu for both inaugurals.{{cite news|author=Wilson, Eric|title=Mrs. Obama in Kors|url=http://runway.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/mrs-obama-in-kors/|date=February 27, 2009|access-date=March 17, 2013|archive-date=May 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518131222/http://runway.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/mrs-obama-in-kors/|url-status=live}} and {{cite news|title=Mrs. Obama's Inaugural Wardrobe by Many Designers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/22/us/first-lady-and-fashion-are-no-longer-so-combustible.html|date=January 21, 2013|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 17, 2013|archive-date=February 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226034754/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/22/us/first-lady-and-fashion-are-no-longer-so-combustible.html|url-status=live}} She has also been known for wearing clothes by African designers such as Mimi Plange, Duro Olowu, Maki Oh, and Osei Duro, and styles such as the Adire fabric.{{Cite news|url=https://guardian.ng/life/culture-lifestyle/the-evolution-of-adire/|title=Adire: The Love Affair Between Art And Fashion|newspaper=Guardian|location=Lagos, Nigeria|date=July 12, 2016|access-date=September 24, 2017|archive-date=September 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924231230/https://guardian.ng/life/culture-lifestyle/the-evolution-of-adire/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://alainelkanninterviews.com/duro-olowu/|title=Alain Elkann interviews designer and curator Duro Olowu|date=April 9, 2017|work=Alain Elkann Interviews|access-date=September 24, 2017|archive-date=September 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926212852/http://alainelkanninterviews.com/duro-olowu/|url-status=live}}
Obama appeared on the cover and in a photo spread in the March 2009 issue of Vogue.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7883253.stm|title=Michelle Obama makes Vogue cover|access-date=February 14, 2009|date=February 11, 2009|archive-date=February 14, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214132616/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7883253.stm|url-status=live}} Every first lady since Lou Hoover (except Bess Truman) has been in Vogue,{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/usPoliticsNews/idUKTRE51A86320090211|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216103515/http://uk.reuters.com/article/usPoliticsNews/idUKTRE51A86320090211|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 16, 2009|title=Michelle Obama graces cover of Vogue magazine|access-date=February 14, 2009|date=February 11, 2009 |work=Reuters | first=Jill | last=Serjeant}} but only Hillary Clinton had previously appeared on the cover.{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2009/02/first-look-mich.html|title=All the Rage: The Image Staff Muses On The Culture of Keeping Up Appearance in Hollywood and Beyond|access-date=February 14, 2009|date=February 11, 2009|work=Los Angeles Times|author=Tschorn, Adam|archive-date=February 14, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214124752/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2009/02/first-look-mich.html|url-status=live}} Obama later appeared two more times on the cover of Vogue, while First Lady, the last time in December 2016, with photographs by Annie Leibovitz.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/11/politics/michelle-obama-vogue/index.html|title=Michelle Obama makes third Vogue cover appearance |first=Kevin |last=Liptak |date=November 12, 2016 |publisher=CNN |access-date=November 29, 2016 |archive-date=November 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130185228/http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/11/politics/michelle-obama-vogue/index.html |url-status=live}} In August 2011, she became the first woman ever to appear on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens magazine, and the first person in 48 years.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.babycenter.com/celebrities/better-homes-gardens-put-first-woman-on-its-07222011-cover/ |title=Better Homes and Gardens put first woman on its cover |publisher=Blogs.babycenter.com |date=July 22, 2011 |access-date=December 14, 2012 |archive-date=October 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030091946/http://blogs.babycenter.com/celebrities/better-homes-gardens-put-first-woman-on-its-07222011-cover/ |url-status=usurped}} In 2013, during the 85th Academy Awards, she became the first first lady to announce the winner of an Oscar (Best Picture, which went to Argo).{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainment-us-oscars-michelleobama-idUSBRE91O07020130225|title=Michelle Obama surprises Oscars by presenting Best Picture award|access-date=February 25, 2013|date=February 24, 2013|publisher=Reuters|archive-date=January 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112010837/http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainment-us-oscars-michelleobama-idUSBRE91O07020130225|url-status=live}}
The media have been criticized for focusing more on the first lady's fashion sense than her serious contributions.{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/morgan-felchner/2008/11/14/for-mom-in-chief-michelle-obama-and-women-everywhere-its-about-choice.html|title=For Mom-in-Chief Michelle Obama and Women Everywhere, It's About Choice|access-date=January 10, 2009|date=November 14, 2008|work=U.S. News & World Report|author=Felchner, Morgan E.|archive-date=February 2, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202155426/http://www.usnews.com/blogs/morgan-felchner/2008/11/14/for-mom-in-chief-michelle-obama-and-women-everywhere-its-about-choice.html|url-status=live}} She said after the 2008 election that she would like to focus attention as First Lady on issues of concern to military and working families.{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/2008/10/17/michelle-obama-as-baracks-first-lady-i-would-work-to-help-working-families-and-military-families.html|title=Michelle Obama: As Barack's First Lady, I Would Work to Help Working Families and Military Families|access-date=January 10, 2009|date=October 17, 2008|work=U.S. News & World Report|author=Obama, Michelle|archive-date=January 14, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114093034/http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/2008/10/17/michelle-obama-as-baracks-first-lady-i-would-work-to-help-working-families-and-military-families.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/170435|title=The Editor's Desk|access-date=January 9, 2009|date=November 22, 2008|work=Newsweek|author=Klaidman, Daniel|archive-date=January 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104105320/http://www.newsweek.com/id/170435|url-status=live}} In 2008, U.S. News & World Report blogger, PBS host and Scripps Howard columnist Bonnie Erbé argued that Obama's own publicists seemed to be feeding the emphasis on style over substance,{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/11/13/michelle-obama-is-making-herself-a-stay-at-home-mom-not-the-media-2.html|title=Michelle Obama Is Making Herself a Stay-at-Home Mom, Not the Media|access-date=January 10, 2009|date=November 13, 2008|work=U.S. News & World Report|author=Erbe, Bonnie|archive-date=January 29, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129160630/http://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/11/13/michelle-obama-is-making-herself-a-stay-at-home-mom-not-the-media-2.html|url-status=live}} and said Obama was miscasting herself by overemphasizing style.{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/11/06/barack-and-michelle-obama-sound-tone-deaf-on-womens-issues.html|title=Barack and Michelle Obama Sound Tone-Deaf on Women's Issues|access-date=January 10, 2009|date=November 6, 2008|work=U.S. News & World Report|author=Erbe, Bonnie|archive-date=April 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415202422/http://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/11/06/barack-and-michelle-obama-sound-tone-deaf-on-womens-issues.html|url-status=live}}
{{clear}}
For three straight years{{snd}}2018, 2019, and 2020{{snd}}Obama topped the Gallup poll asking who is the "most admired woman" in the U.S.{{cite web |last=Cohn |first=Alicia |title=Michelle Obama is 'most admired woman' in new poll |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/476218-michelle-obama-is-most-admired-woman-in-new-poll/ |website=The Hill |date=December 30, 2019 |access-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-date=February 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222180732/https://thehill.com/homenews/news/476218-michelle-obama-is-most-admired-woman-in-new-poll |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/531909-michelle-obama-named-most-admired-woman-for-third-straight-year-gallup/ |title=Michelle Obama named most admired woman for third straight year: poll |last=Budryk |first=Zack |date=December 29, 2020 |work=The Hill |access-date=December 29, 2020 |archive-date=December 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229125711/https://thehill.com/homenews/531909-michelle-obama-named-most-admired-woman-for-third-straight-year-gallup |url-status=live}}
Time magazine features an annual "Person of the Year" cover story in which Time recognizes the individual or group of individuals who have had the biggest impact on news headlines over the previous twelve months. In 2020, the magazine decided to retroactively choose a historically deserving woman for each year in which a man had been named Person of the Year, reflecting the fact that a woman or women had been named Person of the Year only eleven times in the preceding hundred. As part of this review, Michelle Obama was named the Woman of the Year for 2008.{{cite web |last=Budryk |first=Zack |title=Time revisits 100 years of 'Person of the Year' covers to honor overlooked women |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/486077-time-revisits-100-years-of-person-of-the-year-covers-to-honor/ |website=The Hill |date=March 5, 2020 |access-date=August 18, 2020}}
=Assessment by historians and scholars=
Since 1982 Siena College Research Institute has conducted occasional surveys asking historians and scholars to assess American first ladies according to a cumulative score on the independent criteria of their background, value to the country, intelligence, courage, accomplishments, integrity, leadership, being their own women, public image, and value to the president.{{cite web |title=Eleanor Roosevelt Retains Top Spot as America's Best First Lady Michelle Obama Enters Study as 5th, Hillary Clinton Drops to 6th Clinton Seen First Lady Most as Presidential Material; Laura Bush, Pat Nixon, Mamie Eisenhower, Bess Truman Could Have Done More in Office Eleanor & FDR Top Power Couple; Mary Drags Lincolns Down in the Ratings |url=https://scri.siena.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/FirstLadies2014Release_Final.pdf |website=scri.siena.edu |publisher=Siena Research Institute |access-date=16 May 2022 |date=February 15, 2014}} Obama was ranked 5th-best out of 39 in the 2014 survey (conducted during her husband's second term as president) and 3rd-best out of 40 in 2020 (the first survey conducted after the Obamas had left the White House).{{cite web |title=Copy of FirstLadies_Full Rankings_working_dl_2.xls |url=https://scri.siena.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/First-Ladies-Full-Rankings-2020.pdf |website=scri.siena.edu |publisher=Siena Research Institute |access-date=March 11, 2025 |date=2020}}
Subsequent activities (2017–present)
In May 2017, during an appearance at the Partnership for a Healthier America conference, Obama rebuked the Trump administration for its delay of a federal requirement designed to increase the nutritional standards for school lunches.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/333152-michelle-obama-slams-trump-school-meals-decision/|title=Michelle Obama slams Trump school meals decision|first=Max|last=Greenwood|date=May 12, 2017|work=The Hill|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=May 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517113530/https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/333152-michelle-obama-slams-trump-school-meals-decision/|url-status=live}} In June, while attending the WWDC in Silicon Valley, California, Obama called for tech companies to add women for the diversifying of their ranks.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/336634-michelle-obama-to-silicon-valley-make-room-for-women/|title=Michelle Obama to Silicon Valley: 'Make room' for women|date=June 6, 2017|first=Mark|last=Hensch|work=The Hill|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=May 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517113530/https://thehill.com/homenews/news/336634-michelle-obama-to-silicon-valley-make-room-for-women/|url-status=live}} In July, Obama honored Eunice Shriver at the 2017 ESPY Awards.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/341794-michelle-obama-gets-standing-ovation-at-espys/|title=Michelle Obama gets standing ovation at ESPYs|first=Julia|last=Manchester|work=The Hill|date=July 12, 2017}} In September, Obama delivered an address at the tech conference in Utah charging the Trump administration with having a fearful White House,{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/351936-michelle-obama-wh-being-led-with-fear/|title=Michelle Obama: WH being led with fear|date=September 22, 2017|work=The Hill|first=Josh|last=Delk|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=May 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517122039/https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/351936-michelle-obama-wh-being-led-with-fear/|url-status=live}} appeared in a video for the Global Citizens Festival advocating more attention to giving young girls an education,{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/352095-michelle-obama-delivers-message-supporting-girls-education/|title=Michelle Obama delivers message supporting girls education|first=Brooke|last=Seipel|work=The Hill|date=September 23, 2017}} and attended the Inbound 2017 conference in Boston.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/27/politics/michelle-obama-women-voters/index.html|title=Michelle Obama: 'Any woman who voted against Hillary Clinton voted against their own voice'|work=CNN|date=September 27, 2017|access-date=September 29, 2017|archive-date=September 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930024616/http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/27/politics/michelle-obama-women-voters/index.html|url-status=live}} During an October{{spaces}}3 appearance at the Philadelphia Conference for Women, Obama cited a lack of diversity in politics with contributing to lawmakers being distrusted by other groups.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/353851-michelle-obama-criticizes-lack-of-diversity-in-politics-all-white/|title=Michelle Obama criticizes lack of diversity in politics: one side is 'all white, all men'|first=Avery|last=Anapol|work=The Hill|date=October 4, 2017|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=May 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517115035/https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/353851-michelle-obama-criticizes-lack-of-diversity-in-politics-all-white/|url-status=live}} In November, Obama discussed gender disparity in attitudes with Elizabeth Alexander while attending the Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago,{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/358253-michelle-obama-we-raise-men-to-feel-entitled/|title=Michelle Obama: We raise men to feel 'entitled'|first=Judy|last=Kurtz|work=The Hill|date=November 1, 2017|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=May 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517122039/https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/358253-michelle-obama-we-raise-men-to-feel-entitled/|url-status=live}} and spoke at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford, Connecticut.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/360978-michelle-obama-on-coping-with-trump-presidency-dont-tweet-nasty/|title=Michelle Obama on dealing with difficult times: 'Don't tweet nasty stuff'|first=Josh|last=Delk|work=The Hill|date=November 17, 2017|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=May 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517115032/https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/360978-michelle-obama-on-coping-with-trump-presidency-dont-tweet-nasty/|url-status=live}}
In April 2018, Obama responded to speculation that she might be running for president by saying she has "never had the passion for politics" and that "there are millions of women who are inclined and do have the passion for politics."{{cite web|last1=Real|first1=Evan|date=April 6, 2018|title=Michelle Obama Reveals Why She Won't Be Running for President|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/michelle-obama-reveals-why-she-wont-be-running-president-1100511|access-date=January 22, 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter}}
On January 2, 2021, Obama encouraged Georgia residents to vote in the state's runoff in the U.S. Senate election and to contact VoteRiders, a non-profit voter ID education organization, to make sure they have the necessary ID to vote.{{Cite tweet |user=MichelleObama |number=1345504079976431616 |title=Georgia Senate runoff appeal}}
File:President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Vice President Kamala Harris participated in a Presidential Armed Forces Full Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery (50857743682).jpg in Arlington National Cemetery after the Inauguration of Joe Biden in 2021]]
On January 20, 2021, Obama and her husband attended the inauguration of Joe Biden. Michelle Obama wore a matching plum coat, sweater, pants, and belt designed by Sergio Hudson to the inauguration.{{cite web|last1=Yandoli|first1=Krystie Lee|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/krystieyandoli/michelle-obamas-stylist-inauguration-outfit|title=Michelle Obama's Stylist Explained The Meaning Behind The Former First Lady's Inauguration Look|work=BuzzFeed News|date=January 21, 2021|access-date=January 22, 2021}}
In 2021, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=March 9, 2021 |title=Michelle Obama, Mia Hamm chosen for Women's Hall of Fame |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/womens-half-fame-michelle-obama-20210308.html |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006035313/https://www.inquirer.com/news/womens-half-fame-michelle-obama-20210308.html |url-status=live}} On September 11, 2021, the Obamas attended a 9/11 memorial to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the attacks.{{Cite web |title=Biden, Obama and Clinton mark 9/11 in New York with display of unity |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-obama-clinton-911-new-york-display-of-unity/ |access-date=September 11, 2021 |website=CBS News|date=September 11, 2021 |language=en-US}}
On April 28, 2023, Obama, along with actress Kate Capshaw, joined Bruce Springsteen on stage during his show in Barcelona where they provided backing vocals and tambourine on Springsteen's song "Glory Days".{{cite web |last=Blanchett |first=Ben |date=April 29, 2023 |title=Michelle Obama Joins Bruce Springsteen Onstage During Barcelona Concert|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/michelle-obama-joins-bruce-springsteen-onstage-during-barcelona-concert/ar-AA1avzvt|access-date=April 29, 2023 |website=MSN.com |language=en-US}}
=2024 U.S. presidential election=
Amid media speculation over the candidacy of President Biden, Obama's office announced in March 2024 that she would not be running for president in the 2024 United States presidential election.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/michelle-obama-former-first-lady-not-running-president-2024-rcna141767|title=Michelle Obama's office says the former first lady 'will not be running for president' in 2024|publisher=NBC News|date=March 6, 2024|access-date=March 6, 2024|archive-date=March 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306193643/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/michelle-obama-former-first-lady-not-running-president-2024-rcna141767|url-status=live}}
According to a Reuters/Ipsos public opinion poll among 892 registered voters released on July 2, 2024, Michelle Obama was the only listed Democrat option who would defeat Trump in a confrontation, with 50% of the votes for Obama versus 39% for Trump. 55% of the voters also had a favourable view of Obama versus 42% toward Trump.{{cite web |url=https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/only-michelle-obama-bests-trump-alternative-biden-2024 |title=Only Michelle Obama bests Trump as an alternative to Biden in 2024 |author= |date=July 2, 2024 |website=Ipsos |access-date=July 5, 2024 |archive-date=July 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705013840/https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/only-michelle-obama-bests-trump-alternative-biden-2024 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/03/michelle-obama-would-beat-trump/74289680007/ |title=As calls grow for Biden to drop out, new poll shows Michelle Obama would beat Trump |last=Kochi |first=Sudiksha |date= |website=USA Today |access-date=July 5, 2024 |archive-date=July 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705065449/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/03/michelle-obama-would-beat-trump/74289680007/ |url-status=live}}
On August 20, 2024, Obama gave the penultimate address on the second night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention and then introduced the final speaker, her husband, former president Barack Obama. The New York Times called her speech "electrifying" and suggested she had outshone her husband.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/21/us/politics/obamas-convention.html |title=I Am the Only Person Stupid Enough to Speak After Michelle Obama |author=Peter Baker |work=The New York Times |date=August 21, 2024}}
= ''Becoming'' =
Obama's memoir, Becoming, was released in November 2018.{{Cite news|last=Andrews-Dyer|first=Helena|date=February 25, 2018|title=Michelle Obama's memoir, 'Becoming,' to be released in November|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2018/02/25/michelle-obamas-memoir-becoming-will-be-released-in-november/|access-date=March 1, 2018|issn=0190-8286}} By November 2019, it had sold 11.5 million copies.{{Cite web|date=November 19, 2019|title=Michelle Obama signs 'Becoming' copies on book's anniversary|url=https://apnews.com/article/2faae2dd1741400686763c0ec4967203|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=September 27, 2020|archive-date=May 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518134151/https://apnews.com/article/2faae2dd1741400686763c0ec4967203|url-status=live}} A documentary titled Becoming, which chronicles Obama's book tour promoting the memoir, was released on Netflix on May 6, 2020.{{Cite web|last=Klar|first=Rebecca|date=April 27, 2020|title=Michelle Obama documentary covering 'Becoming' book tour debuting on Netflix in May|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/494867-michelle-obama-documentary-covering-becoming-book-tour-debuting/|access-date=April 27, 2020|website=The Hill|archive-date=April 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428035918/https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/494867-michelle-obama-documentary-covering-becoming-book-tour-debuting|url-status=live}}{{cite web|date=May 4, 2020|title=Becoming review – tantalising tour of Michelle Obama's life|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/may/04/becoming-review-michelle-obama-documentary-netflix|website=The Guardian}} She received the Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording in 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/news/michelle-obama-wins-best-spoken-word-album-2020-grammys|title=Michelle Obama Wins Best Spoken Word Album | 2020 GRAMMYs|website=www.grammy.com|access-date=September 18, 2023|archive-date=November 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113221808/https://www.grammy.com/news/michelle-obama-wins-best-spoken-word-album-2020-grammys|url-status=live}}
= Podcasts =
In July 2020, she premiered a podcast titled The Michelle Obama Podcast.{{Cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Melissa|date=July 24, 2020|title=Michelle Obama Announces Her First Podcast Guest Is Husband Barack Obama|url=https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/a33334831/michelle-obama-spotify-podcast/|website=O, The Oprah Magazine}}{{Cite web|last=Grady|first=Constance|date=July 30, 2020|title=The first episode of Michelle Obama's podcast proves it's fun to just hang out with the Obamas|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/21348081/michelle-obama-podcast-spotify-barack-obama|website=Vox}} It was followed in 2023 by Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast based on topics in her 2022 book The Light We Carry and featured conversations held during her live book tour.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2023/03/06/michelle-obama-light-we-carry-podcast-exclusive-clip/11385724002/|title=Michelle Obama's 'The Light We Carry' book tour is now an Audible podcast: Hear exclusive clip|work=USA Today|date=March 6, 2023|access-date=March 26, 2023}} In March 2025, she launched the podcast IMO with her brother Craig Robinson.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5185812-michelle-obama-launches-imo-podcast/|title=Michelle Obama launches podcast with brother Craig Robinson|work=The Hill|first=Ailia|last=Zehra|date=March 10, 2025|access-date=March 15, 2025}}
= Film and television =
Obama has made occasional guest appearances on TV shows, often portraying herself: iCarly in 2012, Parks and Recreation in 2014, NCIS in 2016, and Black-ish in 2022. She received a Black Reel Awards for Television nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress, Comedy Series for her role in Black-ish.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/6th-annual-black-reel-television-awards-1235047279/ |title=6th Annual Black Reel Television Awards Nominations Announced |first=Valerie |last=Complex |date=June 16, 2022 |website=Deadline |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530124954/https://deadline.com/2022/06/6th-annual-black-reel-television-awards-1235047279/ |archive-date=May 30, 2023}}
In February 2021, Obama was announced as an executive producer and presenter on a children's cooking show, Waffles + Mochi.{{cite web|last=Benveniste|first=Alexis|date=February 9, 2021|title=Michelle Obama is launching a cooking show on Netflix|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/09/media/michelle-obama-cooking-netflix/index.html|access-date=February 10, 2021|publisher=CNN Business}} It was released by Netflix on March 16, 2021.{{cite web|last=Horton|first=Adrian|date=March 16, 2021|title=Waffles + Mochi review – Michelle Obama's charming puppet series|url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/mar/16/waffles-plus-mochi-review-michelle-obama-netflix|access-date=March 16, 2021|website=The Guardian}}{{Cite web|last=Hadero|first=Haleluya|date=March 16, 2021|title=Michelle Obama aims to give a million meals in new campaign|url=https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-health-coronavirus-pandemic-michelle-obama-barack-obama-6b39b57fe471fe832841705620a46748|access-date=March 16, 2021|publisher=Associated Press}} More recently, Regina Hicks had signed a deal with Netflix alongside her and Barack's Higher Ground production company to develop comedies.{{Cite web|last=Otterson|first=Joe|date=December 8, 2021|title='Upshaws' Co-Creator Regina Hicks Sets Netflix Overall Deal, to Develop Comedy Series With Obamas' Higher Ground|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/upshaws-regina-hicks-netflix-overall-deal-obamas-higher-ground-1235129305/ |access-date=December 9, 2021 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} She received two Children's and Family Emmy Awards at the 1st Children's and Family Emmy Awards: for Outstanding Short Form Program (We the People) and Outstanding Preschool Animated Series (Ada Twist, Scientist).{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/childrens-family-emmys-winners-list-2023-1235456208/|title='Heartstopper' Leads All Winners at 1st Annual Children's & Family Emmys (FULL LIST) |first=Michael |last=Schneider |date=December 12, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409091702/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/childrens-family-emmys-winners-list-2023-1235456208/ |archive-date=April 9, 2024}} She produced the documentary film Crip Camp (2020) and the biographical drama film Rustin (2023).
= ''The Light We Carry'' =
On July 21, 2022, it was announced that Obama's next book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, would be published in November 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jul/21/michelle-obama-announces-second-book-the-light-we-carry|title=Michelle Obama announces second book: 'a toolbox to stay centred'|website=The Guardian|last=Shaffi|first=Sarah|date=July 21, 2022|access-date=July 21, 2022}} The book was published by Penguin Random House.{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/21/politics/michelle-obama-book/|title=Spurred by world's 'uncertainty,' Michelle Obama announces new book|website=CNN|last=Bennett|first=Kate|date=July 21, 2022|access-date=July 21, 2022}} In 2023, Obama received Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special nomination at the 75th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards for the Netflix documentary film The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey.{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2023/outstanding-informational-series-or-special|title=Outstanding Informational Series Or Special Nominees / Winners 2023|website=Television Academy}}
Awards and honors
In November 2023, Obama was named to the BBC's 100 Women list.{{cite web |date=November 23, 2023 |title=BBC 100 Women 2023: Who is on the list this year? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-02d9060e-15dc-426c-bfe0-86a6437e5234 |access-date=November 24, 2023 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Award ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result ! class=unsortable | Ref. |
| 2019
| rowspan="2"| Grammy Awards | Becoming | {{won}} | rowspan="2" align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/michelle-obama/251938 |title=Michelle Obama |publisher=Grammy Awards |access-date=February 4, 2024}} |
| 2023
| Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording | The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times | {{won}} |
| 2023
| Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special | The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey | {{nom}} | align="center"| {{Cite web |url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/michelle-obama |title=Michelle Obama |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=July 12, 2023}} |
Bibliography
- {{cite book |last=Obama |first=Michelle |year=2012 |title=American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America |title-link=American Grown |location=New York |publisher=Crown Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-307-95602-6 |oclc=790271044}}
- {{cite book |last=Obama |first=Michelle |year=2018 |title=Becoming |title-link=Becoming (book) |location=New York |publisher=Crown Publishing Group |isbn=978-1-5247-6313-8 |oclc=1030413521}}
- {{Cite book |last=Obama |first=Michelle |year=2022 |title=The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times |title-link=The Light We Carry |location=New York |publisher=Crown Publishing Group |isbn=9780593237465 |oclc=1336957651}}Reviews:{{Bulleted list|{{Cite web |last=Harper |first=Hilary |date=December 6, 2022 |title='How I get myself through': Inside Michelle Obama's book of life lessons |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books/how-i-get-myself-through-inside-michelle-obama-s-book-of-life-lessons-20221205-p5c3sz.html |access-date=December 6, 2022 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}|{{Cite web |first=Aida |last=Edemariam |date=November 15, 2022 |title=The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama review – lessons in life |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/nov/15/the-light-we-carry-by-michelle-obama-review-lessons-in-life |access-date=December 6, 2022 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}|{{Cite news |last=Newman |first=Judith |date=November 15, 2022 |title=Michelle Obama Has Some Advice |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/15/books/review/the-light-we-carry-michelle-obama.html |access-date=December 6, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}|{{cite magazine |last=Chan |first=Tim |date=November 23, 2022 |title=First (Place) Lady: Michelle Obama's New Book Hits Number One on the Charts |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/product-recommendations/books/michelle-obama-new-book-the-light-we-carry-buy-read-online-1234630261/ |access-date=December 6, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}|{{cite web |last=Seaton |first=Lola |date=November 23, 2022 |title=The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama's self-help slogans |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2022/11/the-light-we-carry-michelle-obama-review |access-date=December 6, 2022 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US}}|{{cite news |last=Dawn |first=Turner |date=November 15, 2022 |title=The message of Michelle Obama's new book is familiar but much needed |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2022/11/15/michelle-obama-book/ |access-date=December 6, 2022}}}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
Further reading
- {{cite book |last=Chambers |first=Veronica |title=The Meaning of Michelle: 16 Writers on the Iconic First Lady and How Her Journey Inspires Our Own |publisher=St. Martin's Press |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-250-11496-9}}
- {{cite book |last=Colbert |first=David |title=Michelle Obama, An American Story |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-547-24770-0}}
- {{cite book |last=Lightfoot |first=Elizabeth |title=Michelle Obama: First Lady of Hope |url=https://archive.org/details/michelleobamafir00ligh |publisher=The Lyons Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-59921-521-1}}
- {{cite book |last=Mundy |first=Liza |title=Michelle Obama, A Life |url=https://archive.org/details/michellebiograph00mund |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-4165-9943-2}}
External links
{{sisterlinks|d=Q13133|c=Category:Michelle Obama|n=Category:Michelle Obama|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=Author:Michelle Obama|wikt=no|species=no}}
- [https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/joiningforces/about Joining Forces]
- {{IMDb name|2349292}}
- {{C-SPAN|1023759}}
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Category:21st-century American philanthropists
Category:21st-century American women lawyers
Category:21st-century American women writers
Category:21st-century women philanthropists
Category:21st-century Protestants
Category:African-American Christians
Category:African-American women writers
Category:African-American writers
Category:American academic administrators
Category:American garden writers
Category:American gun control activists
Category:American health activists
Category:American LGBTQ rights activists
Category:American women memoirists
Category:Anti-obesity activists
Category:First ladies of the United States
Category:Harvard Law School alumni
Category:Intellectual property lawyers
Category:Obama administration personnel
Category:People associated with Sidley Austin
Category:People from Kalorama (Washington, D.C.)
Category:Philanthropists from Illinois
Category:Princeton University alumni
Category:Spouses of Illinois politicians
Category:United Church of Christ members
Category:Whitney M. Young Magnet High School alumni
Category:African-American founders
Category:American women founders