Michelle Obama Reveals the Trump-Era Policy That Still Keeps Her Up at Night
Michelle Obama is speaking out about the one issue from Donald Trump’s presidency that continues to haunt her — immigration.
In a candid and wide-ranging conversation on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast, the former First Lady opened up about her fears, frustrations, and commitment to personal peace. But when it comes to the state of immigration under Trump and the lasting effects of his policies, she admitted: “It’s what keeps me up at night.”
“In this current climate, for me it’s what’s happening to immigrants,” Obama said. “It’s not the fear for myself anymore. I drive around in a four-car motorcade with a police escort. I’m Michelle Obama.”
Still, her concerns are personal. She added, “I do still worry about my daughters in the world, even though they are somewhat recognizable.”
Now 61, Obama expressed deep unease about how immigrants and communities of color are treated in today’s America. She cited “bias,” “racism,” and “ignorance” as growing threats — ones that seem to be increasingly unchecked. Her concern: a shift away from fairness, justice, and due process.
“Now that we have leadership that is, sort of, indiscriminately determining who belongs and who doesn’t,” she said, “we know that those decisions aren’t being made with courts and with due process.”
Her brother, Craig Robinson, also joined the podcast and recalled a traumatic moment from their childhood — when he was wrongly accused by a Black police officer of stealing a new bike. Michelle drew a straight line from that incident to modern-day immigration enforcement, saying the same systemic bias is still at play.
Former President Barack Obama also spoke recently at Hamilton College, addressing threats to democracy without naming Trump directly. He warned against rising authoritarian behavior, like government pressure on universities and legal firms.
“I’m more deeply concerned with a federal government that threatens universities if they don’t give up students who are exercising their right to free speech,” he said. “That kind of behavior is contrary to the basic compact we have as Americans.”
Why Michelle Skipped Trump’s 2025 Inauguration
Michelle also addressed another headline-grabbing topic on her own podcast, IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson: her decision to skip Trump’s 2025 inauguration — and the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter.
“It started with not having anything to wear,” she joked, before diving deeper. “If I’m not going to do this thing, I got to tell my team, I don’t even want to have a dress ready… because it’s so easy to just say, let me do the right thing.”
Her absence sparked speculation about political tensions — and even rumors of marital strain, since Barack Obama attended both events alone. Michelle shut down that chatter.
“My decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me were met with such ridicule and criticism,” she said. “People couldn’t believe I was saying no for any other reason… that they had to assume my marriage was falling apart.”
Instead, Michelle said her absence was about self-care — and reclaiming her peace.
“I’m at this stage in life where I have to define my life on my terms for the first time,” she shared. “So what are those terms? Going to therapy, just to work all that out.”
She’s now teaching her daughters, Sasha and Malia, the power of boundaries.
“I want them to start practicing now the art of saying no,” she said. “Feeling like they’re enough right now… It’s a practice. It’s a muscle that you have to build.”
Michelle Obama previously attended Trump’s 2020 inauguration — but her stance has since sharpened. She has not minced words, calling Trump “a convicted felon, a known slumlord,” and “a predator found liable for sexual abuse,” according to The Independent.