By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-12 18:51:42 | Updated at 2025-03-12 22:38:42
3 hours ago
It's normal to be embarrassed by your parents - even if your dad is the President of the United States.
Michelle Obama hilariously revealed the point at which her daughters, Malia and Sasha, became visibly embarrassed by their father, Barack Obama, during his time in office.
The former first lady, 61, told the story in her new podcast, titled IMO, which she hosts alongside brother Craig Robinson, giving insight into her time in the White House between 2009 and 2017.
The pair were discussing the importance of having family support, when Michelle spoke about how grateful she was that her daughters had their cousins around during Barack's presidency.
One particular memory that came to mind was when Malia and Sasha - now 26 and 23 - no longer wanted to be a part of the annual Turkey Pardoning, so Craig's two young sons stepped in instead.
'Every year we'd have the turkey pardoning, and that was the one thing the girls would do with Barack, was go stand next to him when he pardoned this turkey,' Michelle explained on the podcast.
'It was cute when they were little, but as they got older you could see on their faces in the shots of them thinking, "I want to just poke my eyes out, just right now. Just get me out of here,"' the mom continued.
She added the girls were thinking: '"I'm standing with my father telling these stupid jokes next to a turkey."'
The former first lady, 61, told the story in her new podcast, titled IMO, which she hosts alongside brother Craig Robinson, giving insight into her time in the White House between 2009 and 2017
By the time it was the Obama's final Thanksgiving in the White House, and the last turkey pardoning, 'they were done.'
'[They said] "I'm out, I'm not going,"' she laughed. 'So in subbed Austin and Aaron.'
Craig added the boys were six and four at the time, with Michelle enthusiastically called it the 'perfect turkey pardoning age.'
The Turkey Pardoning is an annual event that began during the Civil War when Tad Lincoln asked his father Abraham Lincoln to spare a turkey named Jack from a holiday meal.
Michelle is set to interview a variety of guests in her podcast, IMO - an acronym for 'in my opinion.'
Michelle and Craig will offer advice from their personal experience while refraining from addressing current affairs.
In the first episode, Craig chatted about his divorce, while he and Michelle also spoke about growing up on Chicago's South Side.
The podcast comes as divorce rumors continue to haunt the Obamas, who have been married for 32 years but have not been seen together often in recent months.
Michelle shared the moment Malia and Sasha no longer wanted to be apart of the annual Turkey Pardoning
Michelle revealed that by the time it was Barack Obama's final Thanksgiving in the White House, and the last turkey pardoning, the girls 'were done'
The podcast was announced by Higher Ground, the production company founded by the Obamas in 2018.
The company has previously released a limited series about Steve Wonder and a celebrity interview show about family recipes. Michelle previously hosted a podcast, The Michelle Obama Podcast.
Guests for the project will include a mix of celebrities such as Tyler Perry, Seth Rogen and Jay Shetty. Writer and actress Issa Rae will be the guest for the second episode.
Craig, who is known to enjoy a close relationship with his sister, is the executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches which is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.
