Michelle Obama was harshly criticized for a New Year’s message shared with her followers just weeks before Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office.
The former first lady took to Instagram on Friday afternoon with a minute-and-a-half-long video message wishing her followers a happy holiday season as 2024 officially comes to a close.
But the Internet was not so enthusiastic with his words of encouragement to the American people.
The video, which racked up hundreds of comments in just the first three hours of being posted, showed the former first lady against a white background as she began to address the lens.
‘Happy holidays!’ she began cheerfully.
He then took a few moments to talk about the year ahead and how the nation will feel about the near future.
“I know it’s been a difficult few months for many of us and people are feeling a little anxious and unsure,” she said.
“But even in these difficult times, there are many reasons to remain hopeful.”
Former first lady Michelle Obama was harshly criticized for a New Year’s message she shared on Instagram early Friday morning after wishing her followers a happy holiday and talking about the uncertain year ahead for the country.
The video message, which racked up hundreds of comments within the first three hours of being posted, was filled with comments from people who believe it was an inquiry into Trump’s landslide presidential victory and his official return to the Oval Office in just a few hours. a few weeks.
The former first lady then spoke of the hope she personally sees through the people she works with through the Obama Foundation.
“I wanted to share some thoughts on the work the Obama Foundation is doing to encourage young changemakers around the world,” he captioned the video. ‘Take a look.’
The rest of the clips featured all kinds of people, including her husband, former President Barack Obama, and some of the work they’ve done over the past 12 months.
This included the construction of the Obama Presidential Center being built on Chicago’s South Side.
But many thought his “somber” message to the Internet pointed to Trump’s landslide victory over Kamala Harris in last month’s presidential election.
And hundreds of viewers flooded the comments with their own opinions about what awaits us in 2025.
‘Twenty-four more days and we will be out of this nightmare that you and your husband created for the American people!’ wrote one commenter.
Another agreed, adding: “What a joke.” Hopefully Trump can fix the mess her husband has put this country in. The subway in your video, how ironic.’
‘It hasn’t been difficult for most of us! Most of us voted for Trump!’ wrote another. ‘We’re ok!’
Another comment read: “The only sad person is you and your friend Obama.”
“I’m so happy Donald Trump won and life will go back to normal,” one person wrote. “The homeless were in need and the people of New York City are on the streets and all you did was put the money in your pockets.”
“Thank God Donald Trump won, there will be no unfed children,” the same person added. “Boys will be boys and girls will be girls.”
‘You are showing a building that you built, but what about the people who are starving and dying in the streets? What about our security? What happens to our lives? What’s up with everything? Why don’t you worry about that for a change? they continued.
“We are very happy that Donald Trump is in office because we will all be equal.”
Others were quick to agree with the lengthy statement, noting that she should be happy that Trump is returning to the White House in January.
Some comments also questioned how she could be nervous about the next four years without taking a step back to see how the last four played out.
The Obama couple became increasingly involved in the 2024 race and took up Kamala Harris’ election campaign in the final weeks leading up to November 5.
At a Harris campaign three days before the election, the former first lady gave a speech in Pennsylvania in which she praised the vice president and urged people to get out and vote while criticizing Donald Trump, all without saying a single word. time his name.
He argued that in the United States “we rise more than we fall,” but warned against those who are trying to tell another story about the country.
He noted that in dark and difficult times, the country needs someone who “connects with people’s pain and addresses systemic problems at their roots, not leaders who stoke our fears and focus our fury on each other.”
“Once you open that gas can, once you wink at hate and make it normal to call someone stupid, or low IQ, or human scum, look, you can’t control how quickly or to what extent they become will spread that fire of hatred,” he warned. , referring to some of the names Trump and his allies have called Harris.
The former first lady became increasingly involved in the 2024 race, taking up Harris’ election campaign in the final weeks leading up to Nov. 5.
A few days after last month’s election, the Obamas issued a joint statement on X following Trump’s presidential victory, congratulating him while acknowledging that “this is obviously not the outcome we expected.”
“Suddenly someone feels emboldened to say that our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico come from an ‘island of garbage,'” he continued, highlighting the former president’s rally in New York City where a comedian made a racist joke about the territory. .
He also referred to Trump as a con man, a small man trying to make himself feel big, and Kamala’s opponent, but did not mention him by name.
But just days after the election, the Obamas finally broke their silence on Trump’s victory, congratulating the president-elect while also acknowledging that “this is obviously not the result we expected.”
Barack and Michelle Obama’s joint statement noted that “America is not immune” to having an electorate that reacts accordingly to conditions in the country, which ultimately led to sweeping victories for Republicans across the country and in the national and state elections.
“America has been through a lot in the last few years,” the former first couple wrote.
“In a country as large and diverse as ours, we will not always agree on everything,” the statement admits. “But progress requires that we extend good faith and grace, even to people with whom we disagree.”
The statement was shared with X shortly after Harris told her tearful fans in DC to keep fighting as she admitted.