In the wake of Hillary Clinton’s shock loss to Donald Trump last week, Democrats clung to one last, desperate hope: that First Lady Michelle Obama might be persuaded to take up the feminist mantle and stand for President in 2020.
The idea wasn’t completely absurd. Obama is a former lawyer (she was originally Barack’s boss), was a brilliant and respected First Lady – and had given what was arguably the speech of the campaign trail at the Democratic Convention.
And so, in the hours after the result of the election was announced, the hashtag #Michelle2020 began to trend.
But this week, a magazine profile finally addressed the possibility that the First Lady will run.
In an interview with US Vogue, Michelle Obama said, “I think our democracy has it exactly right: two terms, eight years. It’s enough. Because it’s important to have one foot in reality when you have access to this kind of power,” she continues. “The nature of living in the White House is isolating.”
“When you’re not engaged in the day-to-day struggles that everybody feels, you slowly start losing touch. And I think it’s important for the people in the White House to have a finger on the pulse.”
Meanwhile, Valerie Jarrett, the Senior Advisor to the President, was unequivocal when asked about a possible run for presidency for Obama. “Absolutely not,” said Jarrett, who added that the First Lady was popular precisely because she isn’t a politician. “Everybody knows exactly why she’s doing what she’s doing. There are no hidden agendas. She’s pure in mission, honest, kind, empathetic.”
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