Michelle Obama Says She Would Oppose Husband Barack's Third-Term Run: 'I Would Be At Home'

Last Updated:January 22, 2026, 17:04 IST

The 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution stipulates that no person can be elected to more than two terms as president, making any third-term run legally impossible.

Former US First Lady Michelle Obama. (AFP file photo)

Former US First Lady Michelle Obama said she would oppose any potential third-term presidential run by her husband Barack Obama and would “actively work against" such a scenario if it ever came to pass. Asked on the “Call Her Daddy" podcast if the former US President would consider running for office again if the Constitution didn’t prohibit it, Michelle Obama replied with a slight laugh, “I hope not."

“I would be at home working against it," she told host Alex Cooper, adding, “And maybe a lot of people would be like, ‘Good, we don’t want him anyway.'"

When Cooper pressed further, asking if Barack Obama might reconsider “if Trump does change the law" and seek a third term in 2028, the former first lady was unequivocal, “I hope not. I would actively work against that."

Can Barack Obama Run for US President Again?

The 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution stipulates that no person can be elected to more than two terms as president, making any third-term run legally impossible under current law. However, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of seeking a third term, prompting speculation and debate about constitutional limits. Michelle Obama used the podcast appearance to mount a robust defense of the two-term limit, arguing that fresh leadership is essential for a dynamic democracy.

“I do believe in the need for new vision," the 62-year-old “Becoming" author said., explaining, “The two terms is not just about ‘we like them and we want’- it’s just like, we’re changing and growing so fast. This is a hard job. And it requires new energy, new vision all the time, new ways of looking at the world."

Michelle Obama emphasized the importance of cultivating new leaders rather than recycling established figures.

“There’s so many talented people out there. Why would we keep going with the same people?" she said, asking, “How are we going to build young leaders if the same people keep doing it again, and again and again?"

Reflecting on the generational divide in leadership, Michelle Obama acknowledged the value of experience while championing the perspectives of younger voices.

“As leaders age, they live a different life as an older, established person. And I think there’s room for that wisdom, but there’s room for new ideas to come in," she said.

“This new generation is coming up: They travel more, they know more about the world, they’re exposed in a different way. I’m really, really curious about their perspectives on how to fix some of this stuff," she said, concluding with a firm stance, “I do believe that eight years is enough. I think two terms is enough for everybody."

News world Michelle Obama Says She Would Oppose Husband Barack's Third-Term Run: 'I Would Be At Home'

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