While unveiling her official White House portrait on Wednesday, the former First Lady Michelle Obama took what appeared to be a dig at the ex-president Donald Trump.
“You see, the people that make their voices heard with their vote. We hold an inauguration to ensure a peaceful transition of power,” Michelle said at the official unveiling ceremony, according to The Hill [1].
“Those of us lucky enough to serve work, as Barack said, as hard as we can for as long as we can, as long as the people choose to keep us here,” she added. “And, once our time is up, we move on. And all that remains in this hallowed place are our good efforts and these portraits.”
This appeared to be a dig at Trump challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election. It should be noted that Democrats like Hillary Clinton have frequently challenged the results of the 2016 presidential election that Trump won. Trump had refused to host the Obamas for the unveiling during his presidency, meaning that they had to wait until Joe Biden was in office to have the ceremony, which was further pushed back because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The video of Michelle Obama:
"We hold an inauguration to ensure a peaceful transition of power. Those of us lucky enough to serve work, as Barack said, as hard as we can, for as long as we can — as long as the people choose to keep us here — and once our time is up, we move on." pic.twitter.com/2fns1hx3NG [2]
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 7, 2022 [3]
Michelle went on to talk about her humble background growing up in Chicago, saying that “a girl like me, she was never supposed to be up there next to Jacqueline Kennedy and Dolly Madison.”
“Even if it’s all still a bit awkward for me, I do recognize why moments like these are important,” she said. “Why all of this is absolutely necessary. Traditions like this matter. Not just for those of us who hold these positions but for everyone participating in and watching our democracy.”
Michelle then said that the portraits symbolize telling a “fuller story” that includes “every single American.”
“As much as some folks might want us to believe that that story has lost some of its shine, that division and discrimination and everything else might have dimmed its light, I still know deep in my heart that what we share, as my husband continues to say, is so much bigger than what we don’t,” she continued. “Our democracy is so much stronger than our differences.”
Here’s that part of Michelle Obama’s speech: pic.twitter.com/8OPwCMavCi [4]
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) September 7, 2022 [5]
CNN reported [6] that Biden kissed up to the Obamas during the ceremony, saying that they “made history.”
“You both generated hope for millions of people who were left behind for so long — and it matters,” he said. “You both did it with such grace and such class. You dreamed big and secured lasting wins for the American people, helping lift their burden with a blessing of hope. It’s so underestimated … just having hope. This is the gift of the Obama presidency to the country and to history.”
Barack spoke out to express his hopes that future generations would look at the portraits and “get a better, honest sense of who Michelle and I were.”
“And I hope they leave with a better understanding that if we could make it here, maybe they can too,” he said. “They can do remarkable things, too.”
Though Michelle has claimed that she has no interest in politics, her name has frequently been floated as a possible 2024 presidential candidate, should Biden decide not to run. Trump has yet to reveal whether or not he plans to run again in 2024.