Michelle Obama: This Is "What Not Having Hope Feels Like"

FLOTUS gets real about life in the Trump Era.

Michelle Obama
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Michelle Obama, like many women in the United States, fought hard to elect Hillary Clinton president. And just like many women, she knows what it's like to deal with the aftermath. In her final interview at the White House, Michelle Obama opens up to Oprah about her husband's legacy and the uncertainty that comes with a Donald Trump administration. And judging by a preview clip aired on CBS This Morning, the exchange will make you wish for a Michelle/Oprah ticket in 2020.

Oprah asked her if she felt her husband's administration achieved its goal of giving America hope. The first lady said yes, and that was especially apparent after Donald Trump won the election. "We feel the difference now. See, now, we are feeling what not having hope feels like," she said. "Hope is necessary. It's a necessary concept and Barack didn't just talk about hope because he thought it was just a nice slogan to get votes. [He] and I and so many believe that—what else do you have if you don't have hope? What do you give your kids if you can't give them hope?"

She also talked about how her husband gave America what it desperately needed: a grown-up to tell them it's going to be okay. As usual, she didn't mention Trump by name, but it's clear she means the next guy in charge will likely not serve that role as well:

The first lady also talked about how she wishes people didn't divide themselves by factors like, race, gender, or wealth. "It's sad because the thing that least defines us as people is the color of our skin," she said. You can watch that clip below. The full interview airs Monday night on CBS.

Follow Marie Claire on Instagram for the latest celeb news, pretty pics, funny stuff, and an insider POV.

Megan Friedman
Editor

Megan Friedman is the former managing editor of the Newsroom at Hearst. She's worked at NBC and Time, and is a graduate of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism.

Latest in Politics
Listing
Elizabeth Warren: This Is What Eliminating the Department of Education Will Actually Look Like
Hero
Yes, Men Are Struggling—But Dismantling Women's Progress Isn't the Answer
theSkimm
After President Trump Took Office, ReproductiveRights.gov Went Dark—So theSkimm Founders Brought It Back to Life
michelle obama puts her hand on her heart as she stands at a podium wearing a navy dress
Michelle Obama Honors MLK Day With a Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. After Skipping Inauguration
Cecile Richards wears a bright pink dress and stands in front of a wall of flowers
Cecile Richards, Former Planned Parenthood President and Women's Rights Activist, Has Died at Age 67
signs showing Project 2025 posters on the ground
A Glimpse Into Your Project 2025 Future
Latest in News
Bella Hadid carries the Coach empire bag in New York City with a black mini dress
Bella Hadid Secures Coach's Must-Have Empire Bag, Just Like I Predicted She Would
Selena Gomez wears a cropped blazer and matching trousers while attending the Drew Barrymore show in New York City
Selena Gomez Is the Cropped Blazer Trend's Final Boss
Princess Madeleine of Sweden wearing a tiara featuring emeralds
Why Princess Madeleine of Sweden Can't Use Her Royal Title to Promote Her New Skincare Line
Rihanna in a head scarf and multiple necklaces
Rihanna’s Jamaica Manicure Will Unite the Caribbean
Queen Camilla has blonde hair and is wearing a dark green shirt dress
Why Queen Camilla Has Been Issued a "Strict" Warning Regarding Her Meeting With the Pope
Benny Blanco in a purple shirt with a white tank top underneath and Selena Gomez in a black dress backstage at The Tonight Show in March 2025
Selena Gomez Says She’s "Excited" to Become a Mom Someday in Joint Interview with Benny Blanco