Michelle Obama Makes Head-Turning New Year’s Statement
Former First Lady Michelle Obama took to social media to reflect on what she described as a challenging end to the year, seemingly referencing the results of the November election.
“I know it’s been a difficult few months for so many of us — and folks are feeling a little bit anxious and uncertain. But this holiday season, there are plenty of reasons to stay hopeful,” she wrote in her post.
She continued, “So as 2024 comes to a close, I wanted to share some reflections on the work the @ObamaFoundation is doing to lift up the young changemakers around the world. Take a look.”
Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama sparked controversy during his remarks at the 2024 Democracy Forum hosted by the Obama Foundation. In his speech, he criticized Republicans, making claims that some observers argued were hypocritical or would be labeled as “conspiracy theories” if voiced by GOP figures.
Critics noted that Obama accused Republicans of actions commonly associated with his own party, such as “weaponizing” the Justice Department and “politicizing” the military.
“Pluralism depends on everyone following a certain set of rules,” Obama stated. “What happens when the other side has repeatedly and abundantly made clear they are not interested in playing by the rules?”
He added, “There are going to be times potentially when one side tries to stack the deck and lock in [pause] a permanent grip on power — either by actively suppressing votes, or politicizing the Armed Forces, or using the judiciary, criminal justice system to go after opponents. And pluralism does not call for us to just stand back and say, ‘well, I’m not sure that’s OK.’ In those circumstances, a line has been crossed, and we have to stand firm and speak out and organize.”
Social media users were quick to call out Obama for what they perceived as irony in his remarks, comparing them to actions taken by the outgoing Biden-Harris administration. Actor Kevin Sorbo tweeted that Obama “[a]lmost broke character for a sec,” while conservative commentator Collin Rugg pointed out that the “pause was telling.”
Reports have also emerged suggesting that Obama, along with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, played a significant role in pressuring President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race following his poor performance in a June debate against President-elect Donald Trump.
Actor George Clooney, a long-time Obama ally, reportedly feels betrayed after writing an op-ed urging Biden to step aside. A source close to the actor told RadarOnline that Clooney is “furious with Obama for disappearing after the election disaster and leaving him holding the bag for pushing the plan with his Hollywood pals.” The source added, “George feels duped and vows he’s not going to be anyone’s political water boy anymore.”
The RadarOnline report also claimed that Obama had “approved” Clooney’s op-ed to increase pressure on Biden.
As for Vice President Kamala Harris, she reportedly has no intention of quietly stepping aside after her defeat in the 2024 election. According to CNN’s Isaac Dovere, Harris has been privately discussing potential future plans, including a gubernatorial run in California in 2026 or a presidential bid in 2028.
Harris has also expressed frustration about her role in certifying Donald Trump’s election victory over her. “We haven’t seen or heard much from Vice President Kamala Harris since she lost the election last month,” CNN’s Manu Raju remarked during a segment, noting that the Democratic Party is still grappling with Trump’s victory.