Outgoing US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama opened up about their daughters and their views on a Donald Trump presidency, in a freewheeling interview given to People Magazine.
The tone of the interview was largely personal and warm, with the conversation largely focussing on Barack Obama the person rather than Obama the president.
One of the highlights of the interview was Obama expressing hope that his legacy would be carried forward by the next generation, when quizzed on what he made of the election of Donald Trump to the White House.
Obama spoke affectionately about his daughters through the interview, noting that his girls were part of the same generation that rejected racism, misogyny and anti-gay sentiments. Obama and the Democrats have been critical of Donald Trump’s remarks on Mexican and Muslim immigrants, as well as some of Trump’s comments on women in the past.
Ms Obama, who may have talked more that the President during the interview, commended her husband for making America a “better” place.
She said, “He has been a role model for millions of people from all backgrounds. No one can dispute that. When you think of a father, when you think of a good husband, somebody with strong values, all the things that people say they admire most in other people.”
Ms Obama said that her time with Obama in the White House had brought the couple closer than they were before.
The Obamas had a lot to talk about their daughters, their legacy, Donald Trump’s campaign and their plans for the future.
On their daughters, Malia, 18 and Sasha, 15
“They are both very very proud of their daughters Sasha and Malia. They feel despite the incredible strange life the girls must have had these past eight years, they have succeeded in giving them some normalcy and stability and discipline.”
– Jess Cagle, the Editor of People Magazine.
The first couple was pretty upbeat about their daughters, with the President describing the teenage girls as “kind, smart and thoughtful” people.
Obama noted that his elder daughter Malia was readying to go to college, sounding rather nostalgic over how both his daughters had matured over eight years the first family spent in the White House.
“They are just ready to get out of their parent’s house. The fact that their parent’s house is the White House may add to it,” Obama replied to a question if he thought his daughters would miss living at the US presidential residence.
“They are ready to get out of the nest. We don’t think they are but they are,” Obama said, as his wife voiced what looked like a reluctant “yes”.
On the President’s mum-in-law
The couple also mentioned Michelle’s mother during the interview, with the President pointing out how his mother-in-law at times “protects” him from his wife.
Obama commended his mother-in-law for providing “commonality and perspective” to his daughters during their stay at the White House.
It is great that the girls have that inter-generational relationship with their grandma, Obama remarked.
Ms Obama said that her mother, like all of them, initially found it hard to settle in the White House. The couple fondly recollected how the grandmum used to get awed on meeting important dignitaries during their first days in the White House, recollecting the time when she accompanied the first couple for a visit to meet the Pope in the Vatican.
It was all new for her. She comes from a working-class background, less than a working class background. They weren’t encouraged to dream big back then, Ms Obama highlighted.
On racism, misogyny and Donald Trump
“History doesn’t move in straight line. It zigs and zags, moves forward and backward.”
– Barack Obama on Donald Trump’s regressive remarks on immigrants and women
President Obama said that he was pinning his hopes on the next generation when it came to tackling the challenges of racism, misogyny and bigotry. The remarks may be construed as veiled reference to Donald Trump, whose critics have accused him of pandering to the White Nationalists in order to win the popular vote.
“I have been to college campuses and met with college Republicans and they think it would be crazy too it is just not a partisan issue. So that generation, right behind us, and I believe each successive generation as long as we are doing our job for being good models for it, they are going to move this country in a better direction,” Obama remarked.
The president, however, steered clear of making a direct reference to his successor.
“As I have said subsequent to the election, there are deep differences in vision between ourselves and the incoming administration but ultimately we are on the same team.” Obama said.
Obama noted that Americans had come far as a culture and hoped that the social progress made during his presidency won’t be negated soon.
Obama became the first black President of the United States when in 2008 he won the popular vote beating his Republican rival John McCain. At the time his election was seen heralding a new era of social equality in a country where black people were legally barred from entering public spaces until 1964.
But fears have been expressed since the election victory of Donald Trump, largely due to his pledges to restrict Muslim immigration to the US and his derogatory remarks against Mexicans which have been viewed as racist and a throw back to the America’s past.
On how the Obamas transformed the White House
“In a house that was built by slaves, and watch my daughter, two beautiful black young women head off to school, waving good bye to their father, president of the United States.”
-Michelle Obama on her first thoughts on living in the White House
The first couple have not only hosted various world leaders during President Obama’s eight-year stint in the White House, but have also invited over civilians on many occasions to Washington DC.
Ms Obama said that it was a “conscious” decision on their part to make the White House “accessible” like it had been never before.
“We want to open this house up as wide as possible and make sure that folks feel this is their home. It’s important for all people, kids of all backgrounds, every race and every socio-economic background to feel they have a place in the nation’s house, and to do that you have to do things that make them feel comfortable,” she said.
On their future
While the couple largely seemed in agreement with each other throughout the interview, one could sense a difference of opinion between the two when asked about their future after moving out of the White House.
Ms Obama said the family needed to “tap out and reflect” on their phase in the White House and then take a call.
“But we have to be very conscious as we do that,” Ms Obama said, hinting that she wouldn’t want her husband to take up any responsibility.
Obama, on the other hand, pointed out that he was just 55 and wouldn’t like to lead a retired life yet.
(Source: Youtube)
