Former first lady **Michelle Obama** has suggested that Americans are still “not ready” to elect a woman president, referencing former Vice President **Kamala Harris’** loss to President **Donald Trump** in the 2024 election.
Speaking to a group of women at the **Brooklyn Academy of Music** while promoting her new book, *The Look*, Obama said, “As we saw in this past election, sadly, we ain’t ready.” She added that she has no plans to run for office, insisting, “You all are lying. You’re not ready for a woman. You are not.”
Obama also commented on broader societal attitudes, noting that many men in the United States remain uncomfortable with the idea of female leadership. “We’ve got a lot of growing up to do, and 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 said.
In *The Look*, released on November 4, Obama explores her experiences with fashion, beauty, and her time in the White House as the first Black woman to hold the role of first lady. She discusses how women in politics are often evaluated based on appearance rather than competence.
“During our family’s time in the White House, the way I looked was constantly being dissected — what I wore, how my hair was styled. For a while now, I’ve been wanting to reclaim more of that story, to share it in my own way. I’m thankful to be at a stage in life where I feel comfortable expressing myself freely — wearing what I love and doing what feels true to me. And I’m excited to share some of what I’ve learned along the way,” Obama wrote in June while promoting her book.
The memoir combines reflections on her personal style with commentary on gender dynamics in politics, offering insight into the challenges women continue to face in leadership roles.
