Michelle Obama Declares: “I’m Done with Political Speeches”

Michelle Obama says she’s done with politics, shooting down the possibility of ever giving a stump speech or hitting the campaign trail for a candidate.

“I am not going to be in politics,” the former first lady said on NPR’s “Wild Card with Rachel Martin,” released Thursday. “I’m not giving another political speech. I’m not campaigning for another candidate.”

“But I’m here,” she said, when asked if her “IMO” podcast which she launched with her brother, Craig Robinson, in March was “a way of making peace” with her “place in the world.”

“Just being able to still have a platform to give voice to people, to let people know we’re still here,” the wife of former President Barack Obama said. 

Michelle Obama delivered remarks at Democratic National Convention

Obama delivered remarks at the 2024 Democratic National Convention and campaigned for then-Vice President Kamala Harris in several battleground states. 

The “Becoming” author has put the kibosh on talk of her own political bid before, saying in 2019 there was “zero chance” she would run for president.

After her name was floated as a potential 2024 White House hopeful and touted by commentators as the “best chance” for Democrats to win, her office told ITK in a statement that she would “not be running for president.”

Asked during the NPR interview if she ever considered living a “super private life and curling up,” Obama replied, “Yeah, and I get that more than I ever have gotten it ever before.”

“I’m 60, but I’m still just 60. And I still feel like I can’t stop yet. I’m ready to slow down a bit, but not stop,” she said. 

“And that time will come, but it’s probably too soon. So finding creative ways to stay engaged that is still useful, and is authentic to my nature, which is advice giving and talking,” she said, “I think is a good balance to strike.”