Michelle Obama tells Oprah Winfrey the White House needs a 'grown-up' in times of crisis
Updated
US first lady Michelle Obama has told an interview with Oprah Winfrey that the White House needs a "grown-up" in times of crisis and America will come to appreciate President Barack Obama.
In the interview, which is set to air on Monday night on CBS, Mrs Obama said the election had reinforced her view that her husband's administration was able to inspire hope.
"Because we feel the difference now ... now we're feeling what not having hope feels like," she said.
"Hope is necessary. It's a necessary concept. And Barack didn't just talk about hope because he thought it was just a nice slogan to get votes.
"I mean, he and I and so many believe … what else do you have if you don't have hope?
"What do you give your kids if you can't give them hope?"
Mrs Obama sat for the interview five weeks after the election of Donald Trump to the White House.
Speaking at the final rally of his post-election "thank you" tour, the President-elect responded to the comments, saying she "must have been talking about the past" when she said there was no sense of hope after the election.
But he resisted escalating the spat further, suggesting "she made that statement not meaning it the way it came out".
The Obamas campaigned aggressively against Mr Trump and argued that the New York businessman was unfit to be president.
In a released excerpt of the interview, Mrs Obama did not mention the incoming president by name.
While Mr Obama has refused since the November 8 election to repeat his criticisms of Mr Trump, Mrs Obama comes off as less accepting of the outcome.
'Their lives aren't in vain'
In the interview, which was taped Wednesday in the White House residence, she said the public would eventually appreciate what a reassuring presence her husband was over the past eight years.
She compared him to the person who does not freak out when a toddler bumps their head, causing the child to start crying.
"I feel that Barack has been that for the nation in ways that people will come to appreciate," she said.
"Having a grown-up in the White House who can say to you in times of crisis and turmoil, 'Hey, it's gonna be OK. Let's remember the good things that we have. Let's look at the future. Let's look at all the things that we're building'."
"All of this is important for our kids to stay focused and to feel like their work isn't in vain, that their lives aren't in vain," Mrs Obama added.
AP
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, us-elections, arts-and-entertainment, television, united-states
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