Michelle Obama was confirmed as not running for president, despite persistent rumors suggesting otherwise.
Over the past year, false headlines and viral social media posts have suggested that former First Lady Michelle Obama was preparing to enter national politics. Some of these stories even claimed she had been “confirmed” as a presidential candidate. However, her office and multiple reputable outlets have made it clear: Michelle Obama has no intention of running for political office.
Michelle Obama, who served as First Lady from 2009 to 2017, has consistently rejected speculation about a White House bid. “I’ve never been interested in politics, and I continue to say that I will not run,” she reiterated in interviews promoting her 2022 memoir The Light We Carry.
Her team has likewise dismissed repeated claims that she might step in as a Democratic nominee in the event President Joe Biden withdrew from reelection.
The persistence of the rumor reflects her enduring popularity. Polls frequently show Obama among the most admired women in America, and her approval ratings often surpass those of active politicians. Her advocacy work on healthy living, girls’ education, and voter registration through her nonprofit When We All Vote has also kept her in the public spotlight.
Still, fact-checkers have repeatedly clarified that there is no truth to stories of her candidacy. Publications such as The Times of London and Business Insider stressed that Obama has been clear and consistent on this issue: she does not want to hold elected office.