A running list of what Michelle Obama has said about (not) running for president
Michelle Obama has long said she's uninterested in running for political office. Still, people have thrown around her name to replace Joe Biden.
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- As rumors swirl about who could replace Joe Biden, some have mentioned Michelle Obama.
- The former FLOTUS outperformed other Democrats in a recent poll but has long said she won't run.
- Here's a list of her comments on (not) seeking office, dating back to 2012.
President Joe Biden's announcement Sunday that he was ending his reelection campaign immediately raised the question of who would replace him as the presumptive 2024 Democratic presidential nominee.
One person whose name has long been floated in the background is also perhaps among the least likely candidates: Michelle Obama. Asked about her intentions to run for political office, Obama has been saying no for more than a decade and doesn't seem likely to change her mind anytime soon.
Some pollsters threw the former first lady's name around during the frantic Democratic attempt to find someone to run in Biden's stead in anticipation of his dropping out of the race. A poll that Reuters and Ipsos conducted July 1-2 found that Obama performed best against Donald Trump out of seven possible Democratic candidates, with 50% support among registered voters compared with Trump's 39%.
Obama, however, deliberately situates herself outside partisan politics, focusing instead on service. She has remained relatively quiet during the 2024 election cycle for that reason, though some speculate her disengagement is also related to familial gripes with the Bidens.
When asked on July 5 about the persistent rumors of an Obama candidacy, Crystal Carson, Obama's communications director, reiterated to Business Insider what she said in March of this year: "As former First Lady Michelle Obama has expressed several times over the years, she will not be running for president. Mrs. Obama supports President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' re-election campaign."
Here's a running list of Obama's statements on her desire to run — or, rather, not run — for elected office.
Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images
April 26, 2012
At a White House event, Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day, a child asked Obama whether she ever planned to run for office.
"Absolutely not," the first lady responded. "I think that once his terms are over, we'll go on to do other important things, because there are so many ways you can help this country and the world, even if you're not president of the United States."
She told the child that people learn their interests as they age.
"And for me, it's other stuff that is not being the president." Obama was sure to add, though, that it was a great question — or at least it was at the time.
May 29, 2012
When the hosts of "The View" asked Obama about rumors that she'd run for office, she said, "Those are other people's rumors."
"I am not interested in politics," she continued. "Never have been."
September 25, 2012
Later in 2012, Obama appeared on "The View" again, this time with President Barack Obama. When he joked that Michelle Obama might not have the temperament to be president, she jumped on the opportunity to agree.
"It takes a lot of patience to be president of the United States," she said. "I'm not that patient."
May 30, 2014
Sitting for an interview, President Barack Obama restated what he said on "The View": "One thing I can promise you: Michelle will not run for office."
June 23, 2014
When talking to ABC News, Michelle Obama again shut down the possibility of her run, saying that she was "definitely not" seeking higher office and instead planned to focus on service.
June 29, 2014
NBC News asked a senior White House advisor, Valerie Jarrett, whether there was any chance of another Obama candidacy.
"No," Jarrett said flatly. "I'm absolutely, 100% positive that will never happen."
January 14, 2016
During Barack Obama's first visit to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, someone asked him not about his policy platform, but about his wife's desire to run.
"Let me tell you, there are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes, and Michelle is not running for president," he said.
March 16, 2016
Michelle Obama spoke at a South by Southwest festival in Austin and again clarified her stance: "I will not run for president. No, nope, not going to do it."
"There is so much that I can do outside of the White House," she continued. "And sometimes there's much more that you can do outside of the White House, without the constraints and the lights and the cameras and the partisanship."
December 19, 2016
Oprah Winfrey asked Michelle Obama whether she ever planned to seek office but received largely the same answer as everyone else. Obama also said she would not subject her children to another grueling political campaign.
"I'm not coy," she said. "I've proven that. I'm pretty direct. If I were interested in it, I would say it. I don't believe in playing games."
April 27, 2017
A Q&A in Orlando turned to the question of a possible Obama run, and again the former FLOTUS brought the answer back to her family.
"I wouldn't ask my children to do this again because when you run for higher office, it's not just you," she said. "It's your whole family."
April 5, 2018
At a forum in Boston, Obama said Americans could not turn to any woman and demand she run simply for the sake of making history.
"There are millions of women out here who are inclined, who do have the passion for politics," she said. "I have never had the passion for politics. I just happen to be married to somebody who has the passion for politics, and he dragged me kicking and screaming into this arena."
October 11, 2018
Obama went on the "Today" show to announce a new program, though again ended up answering the question about the chances of a political bid.
"I have never wanted to be a politician," she said. "It's one of those things that nothing has changed in me to make me want to run for elected office."
November 13, 2018
In her memoir, "Becoming," Obama immortalized her lack of interest in running for office in ink: "I'll say it here directly: I have no intention of running for office, ever."
March 18, 2019
On an episode of Conan O'Brien's podcast, Obama said that eight years in the White House was more than enough. When O'Brien asked whether she'd throw her name into the mix in 2020, she answered with a resolute no. Instead, she redirected the conversation toward the importance of voting.
"Sadly in our country when you put an R or a D on you, immediately alienate most of the country with whatever choice you make."
November 14, 2022
Obama told the BBC that the question of whether she'd run for office was the one she hated being asked most. Still, she clarified her position: "No. I'm not going to run."
April 24, 2023
In a more recent interview, Winfrey repeated her question, this time asking about 2024, not 2020. Again, Obama said she had "never expressed any interest in politics. Ever."
"I'm just wondering: Does what I want have anything to do with anything?" Obama asked. "Does who I choose to be have anything to do with it?"
March 5, 2024
Carson, Obama's communications director, told NBC that Obama supported Biden's bid for reelection and had no plans to run. She gave the same statement to Business Insider on July 5.