Michelle Obama says 'loud and reckless' Trump put her family at risk with birther conspiracies
Former first lady Michelle Obama has remained somewhat tight-lipped about President Trump since the 2016 presidential election, but in her new memoir, she doesn't hold back.
In Becoming, which will be released on Nov. 13, Obama says Trump's false conspiracy theory that her husband, former President Barack Obama, was not born in the United States was "crazy and mean-spirited," with its "bigotry and xenophobia hardly concealed," but these "loud and reckless innuendos" were also "deliberately meant to stir up the wingnuts and kooks." Obama says this made her fear for her family's safety because "someone with an unstable mind" could drive to Washington with a loaded gun and try to harm her daughters. "And for this I'd never forgive him," Obama writes of Trump, according to an excerpt published by The Washington Post.
Trump spent years promoting birtherism, at one point saying he had information from an "extremely credible" source that could prove Obama's birth certificate was fake, but he never offered up this supposed proof. He finally admitted in a press conference in September 2016 that Obama was, in fact, born in the United States, but never apologized or said he was wrong.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Obama also recalls in Becoming her shock at the 2016 election result, saying she could not believe that a "misogynist" would be elected over Hillary Clinton, whom she calls an "exceptionally qualified female candidate," per The Associated Press. She says she tried to block out memories of the election, and she recalls that her body "buzzed with fury" after she heard the Access Hollywood tape, on which Trump bragged about groping women without their consent. Obama says that what Trump was essentially saying on tape was, "I can hurt you and get away with it."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The pressure of South Korea's celebrity culture
In The Spotlight South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron was laid to rest on Wednesday after an apparent suicide
By Abby Wilson Published
-
Should lying in politics be a criminal offence?
Today's Big Question Welsh government considers new crime of deliberate deception by an elected official
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Store closings could accelerate throughout 2025
Under the Radar Major brands like Macy's and Walgreens are continuing to shutter stores
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Trump officials try to reverse DOGE-led firings
Speed Read Mass firings by Elon Musk's team have included employees working on the H5N1 bird flu epidemic and US nuclear weapons programs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump blames Ukraine for war after US-Russia talks
Speed Read The US and Russia have agreed to work together on ending the Ukraine war — but President Trump has flipped America's approach
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Musk's DOGE seeks access to IRS, Social Security files
Speed Read If cleared, the Department of Government Efficiency would have access to tax returns, bank records and other highly personal information about most Americans
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Senate confirms RFK Jr. as health secretary
Speed Read The noted vaccine skeptic is now in charge of America's massive public health system
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump lays out plans for broad 'reciprocal' tariffs
Speed Read Tariffs imposed on countries that are deemed to be treating the US unfairly could ignite a global trade war and worsen American inflation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Top US prosecutors resign rather than drop Adams case
speed read The interim US attorney for the Southern District and five senior Justice Department officials quit following an order to drop the charges against Mayor Eric Adams
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Senate confirms Gabbard as intelligence chief
Speed Read The controversial former Democratic lawmaker, now Trump loyalist, was sworn in as director of national intelligence
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, Putin plan Ukraine peace talks without Kyiv
Speed Read President Donald Trump spoke by phone to Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not included
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published