Michelle Obama, the former First Lady, sparked widespread controversy with a New Year message that supporters of President-elect Donald Trump deemed “gloomy.” The Instagram post came ahead of Trump’s anticipated re-entry to the White House after his substantial triumph over Vice President Kamala Harris.
“I know it’s been a difficult few months for so many of us – and folks are feeling a little bit anxious and uncertain,” stated Obama in her video message, which lasted for about ninety seconds. “But even during these tough times, there are plenty of reasons to stay hopeful.”
Supporters of Trump were quick to express their disapproval. “Twenty-four more days and we are out of this nightmare you and your husband created for the American people!” wrote one commenter. Another echoed this sentiment, saying: “What a joke. Trump can hopefully fix the mess your husband has gotten this country into.”
Obama’s video highlighted the progress being made on the Obama Foundation’s worldwide youth initiatives and the construction of the $830 million Obama Presidential Center on Chicago’s South Side, Illinois. The 19-acre campus, set to open in 2025, will house a museum, forum building, plaza, athletic center, and public park.
The criticism comes in the wake of Trump’s significant November win, where he garnered 312 electoral votes to Harris’s 226, marking one of the most notable electoral margins in recent presidential history. This outcome contrasted with the pre-election polls that projected Harris with a slim advantage in key battleground states.
During the campaign, Michelle Obama had been a vocal supporter of Harris, delivering over 30 speeches in the final months. She issued a stark warning at a pivotal Pennsylvania rally three days before the election, speaking against leaders who “stoke our fears and focus our fury on one another.” Although she did not name Trump, she criticized those who “wink at hate and make it normal to call somebody a bimbo, or low IQ or human scum.”
Her campaign rhetoric marked a stark departure from her well-known 2016 campaign message, “When they go low, we go high”. In October 2024, while at a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania rally with over 25,000 attendees, she referred to Trump as a “skilled con man”.
Following Trump’s electoral victory, Barack and Michelle Obama released a joint statement expressing their disappointment but emphasizing the necessity for national unity. They recognized that in America’s diverse society, disagreements are inevitable but underscored that progress can only be made when people extend good faith and grace to those with differing views.
Despite the controversy, the New Year’s message has received over 500,000 likes and 8,700 comments on Instagram, with reactions largely divided along partisan lines. Trump supporters were enthusiastic about his impending return to office, while Obama’s followers lauded her message of resilience and hope.
The video message came as the Obama Foundation released its final 2024 annual report, which highlighted $240 million in new donations and collaborations with 160 civic organizations across 12 cities.
In Chicago, Illinois, construction at the Presidential Center site is progressing on schedule and within budget, with over 300 local residents hired through the project’s workforce development program. Despite the social media controversy, Obama maintains a busy public schedule, with three major foundation events lined up for early 2025.
