Former first lady Michelle Obama said in a conversation published to her YouTube page Friday that the country is not ready for a woman president, adding that the U.S. has \u201ca lot of growing up to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs we saw in this past election, sadly, we ain\u2019t ready,\u201d Obama said. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m like, don\u2019t even look at me about running, because you all are lying. You\u2019re not ready for a woman. You are not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Donald Trump defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obama\u2019s comment came during a Nov. 5 conversation at the Brooklyn Academy of Music for her podcast. The discussion was between the former first lady and actor Tracee Ellis Ross, during which they discussed Obama\u2019s new book, \u201cThe Look.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ross had asked Obama if she felt that the first lady role, serving as an archetype for \u201cwifedom and femininity,\u201d had affected \u201cthe room that we\u2019ve made for a woman to be president.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know, we got a lot of growing up to do, and there\u2019s still, sadly, a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman, and we saw it,\u201d Obama continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obama stumped for Harris on the 2024 campaign trail, drawing large crowds to campaign events, advocating for women\u2019s health care and pleading with men to vote for Harris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The former first lady has faced speculation and calls to run for president, but has repeatedly said she does not want to seek the Oval Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n