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# First Lady
Michelle Obama rules out running for elected office
In her first speech since Donald Trump took office, she spoke about what life’s been like outside the White House.
FORMER FIRST LADY Michelle Obama has ruled out running for elected office.
In the course of her husband’s presidency, Michelle became popular with voters, particularly for voters who viewed the line-up of 2016 election candidates as poor.
But speaking at the American Institute of Architects 2017 conference this week, Obama put to bed rumours of her potential bid for public office.
“It’s all well and good until you start running – then the knives come out,” she said.
As I’ve said, I wouldn’t ask my children to do this again, because when you run for high office, it’s not just you. It’s your whole family.
Instead, she said she’s trying to make the most of her causes – ranging from girls’ education to childhood obesity.
“You don’t have to be first lady to influence,” she told the audience.
The appearance also marked Michelle Obama’s first public appearances since leaving the White House, and she spoke about what life’s been like since.
“[Our dogs] Bo and Sunny had never heard a doorbell in their life,” she joked, going on to note the difficulties of ensuring that her two daughters would have a “normal” childhood.
“Friends are surprised I answer the door now,” she said, adding that her daughters Sasha and Malia can actually open their windows now, something they could never do at the White House.
Obama described her family’s newfound civilian life as a relief; “It’s good not to have the weight of your world on your shoulders,” she said.
And what’s Barack been up to?
Having largely remained silent since Donald Trump succeeded him as US president in January, Barack Obama made his first public appearance this Monday in his adopted hometown of Chicago.
The former president participated in a discussion with students from Chicago schools on community organising and civic engagement at the University of Chicago.
It was in Chicago that Barack made his farewell speech a few days before leaving the White House, where he was moved to tears while paying tribute to Michelle.
With reporting from © – AFP 2017
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