At a Glance
- Michelle Obama says she would actively oppose Barack Obama running for a third term
- She argues eight years is enough because the nation needs “new vision”
- The former first lady also doubled down on her claim America is “not ready” for a woman president
- Why it matters: Her blunt stance quashes liberal dreams of a Barack comeback and spotlights ongoing gender barriers in U.S. politics
Former first lady Michelle Obama shut the door on any fantasy of a third Barack Obama presidency, telling podcast host Alex Cooper she would campaign against it if the law ever changed.
Appearing on the January 21 episode of Call Her Daddy, Michelle, 62, was asked whether Barack, 64, would consider re-entering the race if Donald Trump sought a third term.
“I hope not,” she shot back. “I would actively work against that.”
Cooper pressed: “Okay so you’re, like, not interested?”
Michelle explained that the two-term limit exists for good reason.
“We’re changing and growing so fast. This is a hard job, and it requires new energy, new vision all the time. New ways of looking at the world, right? So I do believe that eight years is enough.”
She acknowledged older leaders can offer wisdom, yet insisted fresh perspectives are essential.
“There’s room for new ideas to come. People with a new set of experiences, a new set of, a new take on the world. This new generation is coming up. They travel more, they know more about the world, they’re exposed in a different way.”
Constitutional Reality Check
President Donald Trump, 79, has repeatedly joked about a third term and even sold “Trump 2028” hats, hinting at “methods” to extend his time in office.
In October he conceded the 22nd Amendment appears to block another run.
“Based on what I read, I guess I’m not allowed to run,” he told reporters. “So we’ll see what happens.”
The amendment plainly states: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
Gender in Politics
Cooper also asked Michelle to clarify November remarks that supporters urging her to run are “lying” because the country “is not ready for a woman.”
On Call Her Daddy, Michelle stood by the core message.
“Let’s not be mad because I made the statement. Let’s look at the fact that we’ve had two really qualified female candidates.”
She cited:
- Hillary Clinton, 2016 Democratic nominee
- Kamala Harris, 2024 Democratic nominee
“We had qualified women and they just… again, if they’re not perfect and they don’t cross every ‘t’ and dot every ‘i,’ there’s a falling shortness that is happening.”
Michelle stressed her skepticism isn’t surrender.
“That doesn’t mean that women should roll up their sleeves and call it a day, you know? Like we’re still growing, you know? So yeah, I think it’s gonna happen. Are we ready now? I don’t know. Like prove us wrong. I would love that.”
Life After the White House
The former first lady has repeatedly voiced relief that the pressures of Washington are behind the Obamas.
She has also shot down speculation about launching her own political career.
According to News Of Los Angeles, Michelle told Cooper she remains “really, really curious” about younger generations’ ideas for fixing national problems.
“Like, we don’t have all the answers and that’s okay. That’s why we move on.”
