‘People Are Afraid': Michelle Obama Joins Ellen for First Interview Since Leaving White House
Obama joined DeGeneres on Thursday's broadcast as the host kicked off her 60th birthday celebration
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In her first televised interview since leaving the White House last January, former first lady Michelle Obama was greeted with a prolonged standing ovation while joining Ellen DeGeneres as the host gushed to her audience, "Don't you miss her?"
Obama joined DeGeneres on Thursday's broadcast as the host kicked off her 60th birthday celebration. Obama came bearing gifts, including wine and a Barack Obama chia pet. The former first lady discussed life after the White House, joking she was "just hanging out."
"I wake up when I want to wake up. I, you know, I got myself all gussied up to come here. Came out of the basement. It’s just like what? Come out of the house?" she joked. " But we’re doing great. The girls are good, Barack is working, we’ve got projects going, so we’re staying busy and traveling. We’ve had some fun."
First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. President Barack Obama wait for leaders to arrive for the Nordic state dinner on the North Portico at the White House, May 13, 2016, in Washington, DC.
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President Barack Obama stands with First Lady Michelle Obama shortly before their first official State Dinner, Nov. 24, 2009.
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michele Obama greet Manmohan Singh, India's prime minister, and his wife Gursharan Kaur upon arrival for the State Dinner at the White House in Washington D.C., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. The First Lady wears a gown created by Indian-American designer Naeem Khan.
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First lady Michelle Obama stands with husband President Barack Obama, as they wait for Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala to arrive for a State Dinner at the White House on May 19, 2010. Michelle Obama's dress is by Peter Soronen.
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First lady Michelle Obama walks out to greet Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala for a State Dinner at the White House in Peter Soronen.
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet Chinese President Hu Jintao upon his arrival on the North Portico of the White House in Washington, DC, January 19, 2011, prior to hosting a State Dinner. The First Lady wears Alexander McQueen.
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US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama arrive to greet Chinese President Hu Jintao upon his arrival on prior to hosting a State Dinner.
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First lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama await the arrival of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband Joachim Sauer at the White House before a state dinner June 7, 2011, in Washington, DC. Michelle Obama again wears Naeem Khan.
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband Joachim Sauer at the White House in Washington, DC, on June 7, 2011, for the State Dinner. This is the first official visit by a European leader to the White House since Obama became president.
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama prior to the arrival of the president and first lady of South Korea.
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South Korean first lady Kim Yoon-ok, First Lady Michele Obama, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President Barack Obama pose for photographs on the North Portico of the White House before attending a state dinner Oct. 13, 2011, in Washington, DC.
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U.S. President Barack Obama, right, and First Lady Michelle Obama before a state dinner in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011. The First Lady wears a gown by Doo-Ri Chung.
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama stand alongside British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife, Samantha Cameron, as they arrive for a State Dinner as part of an official visit on the North Portico of the White House in Washington, DC, March 14, 2012. Michelle Obama wears a Marchesa gown.
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US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama await the arrival of British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife, Samantha Cameron, prior to a State Dinner as part of an official visit on the North Portico of the White House in Washington, DC, March 14, 2012.
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcome French President Francois Hollande as he arrives for a state dinner at the White House in Washington, DC, on Feb. 11, 2014. The First Lady flaunts a Carolina Herrera gown.
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First Lady Michelle Obama, wearing a Tadashi Shoji gown, and President Barack Obama arrive to greet guests for a state dinner April 28, 2015, in Washington, DC.
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe upon arrival at the White House on April 28, 2015, in Washington, DC.
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U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. President Barack Obama wait for the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan ahead of a state dinner at the White House Sept. 25, 2015, in Washington, DC. The First Lady wears a black Vera Wang gown.
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Madame Peng Liyuan, First Lady Michelle Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Barack Obama pose for photographers on the North Portico ahead of a state dinner at the White House September 25, 2015, in Washington, DC.
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On Thursday, March 10, 2016, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama wait for the arrival of Canada's Prime Minister and Mrs. Gregoire Trudeau for a State Dinner in the East Room of the White House. The First Lady wears a gown designed by Jason Wu.
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On Thursday, March 10, 2016, Mrs. Gregoire Trudeau, First Lady Michelle Obama, Canada's Prime Minister, and President Barack Obama outside of the North Portico of the White House before the State Dinner in the East Room of the White House.
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First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. President Barack Obama arrive to greet leaders arriving for the Nordic state dinner at the White House, May 13, 2016, in Washington, DC. Leaders from Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Iceland were invited to the White House for the U.S.-Nordic leaders summit.
First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. President Barack Obama wait for leaders to arrive for the Nordic state dinner on the North Portico at the White House, May 13, 2016, in Washington, DC. Michelle Obama wears a gown by designer Naeem Khan.
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On Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, President Barack Obama, gives the sign of approval for his wife, First Lady Michelle Obama's look for the evening, an ivory-colored dress designed by Brandon Maxwell, as they await the arrival of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife, Mrs. Lee Hsien Loong, in honor of their State visit to the White House.
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On Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, Mrs. Lee Hsien Loong, First Lady Michelle Obama, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and President Barack Obama, pose for a photo on the North Portico of the White House before dinner, in honor of their State visit to the White House.
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama pose for the official picture with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Italian First Lady Agnese Landini prior to the state dinner at the White House on Oct. 18, 2016, in Washington DC. The First Lady wears Versace.
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama wait to greet Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Italian First Lady Agnese Landini prior to the state dinner at the White House on Oct. 18, 2016, in Washington DC.
But the conversation quickly took a more serious turn as DeGeneres shared her fears over the current state of U.S. affairs.
"I personally feel the world is a very scary place right now and I do a show where I'm supposed to make people happy and forget about what's going on in the world," DeGeneres said. "What's your take on what's happening?"
"People are afraid," Obama said. "But then there are people who feel good about the direction of the country, so I mean, that’s what makes this country complicated because it’s made up of so many different people from different backgrounds. I mean, we are this mosh pit of society and sometimes there’s a rub."
Obama added, "The thing I learned in the eight years I was in the White House was that what we do every day in our lives, the good things that we do every day and we know we do it. We show empathy, we care for each other. You know, we do have a lot in common. That’s what it means to lead with hope and not fear. And that’s all we have is hope."
