Michelle Obama says she's 'glad' she didn't have a son

Former First Lady Michelle Obama stirred both laughter and discussion this week after saying she’s “so glad” she and former President Barack Obama didn’t have a son — joking that a “baby Barack” would have had it rough.

Speaking on the 18 June episode of her IMO podcast alongside her brother Craig Robinson and guest Angie Martinez, Michelle, 61, quipped: “I’m so glad I didn’t have a boy. Because he would’ve been a Barack Obama.” Martinez responded that such a child would’ve been “amazing,” but Michelle wasn’t convinced. “No,” she said with a laugh, “I would’ve felt for him.”

Michelle and Barack Obama are parents to two daughters: 26-year-old filmmaker Malia and Sasha, 24, a recent graduate of the University of Southern California.

The former first lady’s remarks came during a discussion about the challenges of raising young boys in today’s complex social climate. “People say mothers raise their girls and love their sons,” Michelle said. “And I say, love your son but raise them, too.”

She emphasized that boys today must be equipped not only with resilience for things like traffic stops but also emotional intelligence: “Teach him how to communicate in a marriage, be a listening father, a compassionate neighbor, and a voting citizen.”

Robinson chimed in to note that Michelle had “borrowed our boys,” referencing his own sons. She agreed: “I’ve got plenty,” suggesting her experience with nephews filled that maternal gap.

The remarks have already sparked reactions online — some hailing her honesty and maternal insight, others questioning what a “baby Barack” might’ve faced in the public eye. But the Obamas have never shied from parenting realities. In 2020’s Becoming, Michelle frequently reflected on balancing family life with public scrutiny.

The episode follows Michelle’s recent heartfelt Father’s Day tribute to Barack on Instagram, where she shared a throwback photo of him with Malia and Sasha. “@BarackObama has always been there for us no matter what,” she wrote. “Even when it felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders.”

Michelle’s reflections on family come amid continued public interest in the Obamas’ post-White House life, which has included memoirs, documentaries, and podcast deals — as well as rumors, which the former First Lady dismissed on The Diary of a CEO podcast last month.

“The beauty of my husband and our partnership is that neither one of us was really ever gonna quit at it, 'cause that’s not who we are," she said at the time. "Everybody would know if we were having problems.”

Sources:

People Magazine

USA Today