What Will Michelle Obama Do Next? First Lady Will Remain In Advocacy After Husband's Presidency

With President Barack Obama’s second term coming to a close in just a few weeks, many of his supporters have turned to first lady Michelle Obama as a beacon of hope. But much to the dismay of ardent Obama fans, it seems certain that Michelle Obama won’t run for president in the future.

Exactly what she will do probably has something to do with the causes she took up throughout her life and during her time as first lady. Michelle Obama has focused on advocacy for healthy families and adolescent girls’ education while first lady.

“I am so excited to continue working on this issue not just for the next seven months as first lady, but for the rest of my life,” she said of her work on education for girls at a woman’s summit in June. “And it’s going to be good work, because there are a lot of good partners in this room. And I am so looking forward to really diving in.”

The Obamas announced they’d stay in Washington after vacating the White House in order to let their youngest daughter, Sasha, finish high school. They also announced plans to work with the Obama Foundation in Chicago, which will oversee the completion of a presidential library and museum. The question on everybody’s mind, however, is whether Michelle Obama, who has enjoyed a high approval rating throughout her time in the White House, would seek the presidency at any point in the future.

“No, no, no, no, no … no, no,” said Obama when he was asked about that very possibility at an event in Louisiana in January 2016. “Let me tell you, there are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes and Michelle is not running for president. That, I can tell you.”

David Axelrod, chief strategist for both of Obama’s campaigns, reiterated the sentiment in an October interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt. “People say to me all the time, ‘Well, do you think she might run for office sometime?’” he said. “I would bet everything I own against that prospect.”

Barack Obama nixed the suggestion again in November.

"Michelle will never run for office. She is as talented a person as I know. You can see the incredible resonance she has with the American people," he said during an interview with Rolling Stone. "But I joke that she's too sensible to want to be in politics."

Despite repeated assertions that she’d never seek the presidency, fans of the first lady took to Twitter soon after Donald Trump won the election and got #Michelle2020 trending. For her part, Michelle Obama has said little on the subject. When a supporter yelled “Run for president!” while she was speaking at an event in November, she merely laughed and replied, “Be quiet back there.”