Michelle Obama Faces Backlash for Comparing Trump to a “Divorced Dad”
Jim Bennett/Getty Images // Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Michelle Obama, widely respected for her poise and thoughtful commentary, faced unexpected criticism after making a controversial comparison between Donald Trump and a “divorced dad.” The remarks were made during a London event with Stephen Colbert, where the former First Lady was promoting her best-selling memoir, Becoming.
Although her comment was intended as a light-hearted jab, it quickly ignited backlash from various quarters, including prominent figures and everyday citizens. During the interview, Obama drew an analogy between America under Trump’s leadership and a teenager navigating life after a divorce. “And we come from a broken family. We’re a teenager, we’re a little unsettled, and having good parents is tough,” she said, as reported by USA Today.
“Sometimes you spend weekends with a divorced dad, that feels like it’s fun, but then you get sick—that’s what America is going through. We’re kind of living with divorced dad right now.” Obama continued her critique by suggesting that the presidency doesn’t change who a person is, but rather reveals their true nature, comparing it to “swimming in the ocean with great waves.”
However, these comments were met with significant criticism for perpetuating negative stereotypes about divorced fathers. CNN’s Dana Bash labeled Obama’s choice of words as “remarkably un-woke,” highlighting the potential insensitivity of the comparison. Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera, himself a divorced father, also took issue with the analogy, saying, “She’s reduced (divorced fathers) to a sexist stereotype with a bad parent who gives candy and lets the kids watch too much TV because we have a guilty conscience about the breakup of the marriage.”
Writer Jordan Shapiro echoed these sentiments, arguing that Obama’s comments reinforced harmful stereotypes. “Her decision to perpetuate the divorced dad stigma is unfortunate,” Shapiro wrote, as reported by People Magazine. “It not only undermines millions of unmarried fathers who are trying to do what’s best for their children but also reinforces a way of conceptualizing family life that does more harm than good.”
The backlash extended to social media, where many divorced fathers voiced their disappointment. One father wrote, “I’m a divorced dad who loves his kids and is every bit of a good parent as a divorced mom. I generally don’t like Trump and did like you, but you’ve shown that you can say just as rude and insensitive comments as Trump.”
Another added, “As a divorced dad that gives my all to my daughter each and every weekend, I gotta ask… come again!” Similarly, a user named Jason Catena shared, “As a divorced dad, I do my best to raise my son into a kind of man of which we all can be proud. Your comments don’t help people see that I’m conscientious and competent enough to do a good job.” The incident highlights how even well-intended remarks can be misconstrued or cause offense, particularly when they touch on sensitive issues like family dynamics.
