‘I will not run for president’: Michelle Obama says America still not ready for a woman leader

Former US First Lady Michelle Obama has reignited debate over gender and leadership, stating that the United States is still not ready to elect a woman president. She made the remarks while promoting her new book, The Look, during a November 5 event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Speaking with actor Tracee Ellis Ross, later shared on Michelle Obama’s YouTube channel, the 61-year-old former first lady reflected on the 2024 election, highlighting continued resistance to female leadership.

“As we saw in this past election, sadly, we ain’t ready,” she said. “That’s why I’m like, don’t even look at me about running, because you all are lying. You’re not ready for a woman. You are not.”
Obama criticised persistent male resistance to female authority, adding, “You know, we got a lot of growing up to do. There’s still, sadly, a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman, and we saw it.”

She also dismissed speculation about her own potential candidacy, reaffirming that she has no intention of running for president. “I will not run for president. No, nope, not going to do it,” she said, echoing remarks she first made in 2016.

Obama had actively supported former Vice President Kamala Harris in her 2024 campaign, urging voters to back Harris and warning that Donald Trump posed a threat to the country. At a Michigan rally, she said, “By every measure, (Harris) has demonstrated that she's ready. … The real question is, as a country, are we ready for this moment?”