Michelle Obama Reveals What Keeps Her ‘Up At Night’ About Trump’s Second Term

Former first lady Michelle Obama has opened up about her fears for the safety of immigrants and people of color due to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies in his second term.

“I don’t know that we will have the advocates to protect everybody, and that makes me — that frightens me, it keeps me up at night,” said Obama, who appeared with her brother Craig Robinson on Monday’s edition of the “On Purpose with Jay Shettypodcast.

Obama and Robinson, earlier in the podcast, discussed their experiences with racial discrimination. Shetty then asked the former first lady about her “hardest recent test” of fear she’s experienced due to the color of her skin.

“Well, in this current climate, for me, it’s what’s happening to immigrants,” replied Obama, noting that she no longer has the “fear” herself because she commutes in a motorcade, although she still worries about her two “somewhat recognizable” daughters.

“My fears are what I know is happening out there in streets all over the city. And now that we have leadership that is sort of indiscriminately determining who belongs and who doesn’t, and we know that those decisions aren’t being made with courts and with due process.”

She then brought up a story Robinson had shared moments earlier about being stopped as a child in Chicago by a Black police officer who accused him of stealing a bicycle he’d bought.

″[They’re making decisions like,] ‘You don’t look like somebody that belongs,’ you know, ‘I can determine just by looking at you that you’re … a good person or you’re not a good person,’” she said.

“There’s so much bias and so much racism and so much ignorance that fuels those kinds of choices, I worry for people of color all over this country.”

Obama’s remarks arrive less than a week after she took to her “IMO” podcast with Robinson to reveal why she skipped out on Trump’s second inauguration despite the attendance of her husband, former President Barack Obama.

“People couldn’t believe that I was saying no for any other reason, they had to assume that my marriage was falling apart,” said the former first lady of her decision, which fueled divorce rumors.

“It took everything in my power to not do the thing that was perceived as right, but do the things that was right for me, that was a hard thing for me to do.”

<div class="js-react-hydrator" data-component-name="YouTube" data-component-id="1385" data-component-props="{"itemType":"video","index":17,"contentIndexByType":2,"contentListType":"embed","code":"

","type":"video","meta":{"author":"Jay Shetty Podcast","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbk_QsfaFZG6PdQeCvaYXJQ","cache_age":86400,"description":"Jay sits down once again with former First Lady Michelle Obama and her brother, coach and mentor Craig Robinson, for an intimate conversation centered around family, resilience, and the lasting impact of love and connection.\n\nIn this interview, we discuss:\n00:00 Intro\n02:00 The Kind of Love Only Siblings Understand\n04:15 What was the First Secret You Shared With Each Other?\n09:53 Raised To Be Independent Children In A Loving Community\n14:55 How Different Generations Celebrate Birthdays\n17:00 How to Unlearn Your Inner Fears\n19:47 The Fear Of What Could Happen Can Hinder Personal Growth\n25:28 What a Childhood Encounter with Police Taught Me About Bias\n29:35 Being Judged By The Color Of Your Skin\n31:54 Racism Is Still An Issue\n34:07 How to Raise Resilient Children\n35:59 Don’t Make Assumptions Based On Your Emotions\n38:17 Don’t Let Negative Thoughts Dictate Your Actions\n40:48 The Power Of Good Parenting\n48:41 How To Prioritize Being A Parent While Chasing Your Dreams\n52:08 Parents Aren’t Responsible For Their Children’s Happiness\n58:07 Focus On Cultivating Independence in Your Children\n01:02:24 What Is Your Form Of Therapy?\n01:11:08 Are You Doing Enough?\n01:16:10 How To Become A Good Parent\n01:37:00 What Would Your Mother Be Most Proud Of?\n\nEpisode Resources:\nhttps://www.instagram.com/michelleobama\nhttps://www.facebook.com/michelleobama/\nhttps://www.youtube.com/@michelleobama\nhttps://michelleobamabooks.com/becoming\nhttps://www.obama.org/\nhttps://www.amazon.com/the-light-we-carry/dp/0593237463\nhttps://www.instagram.com/craigmalrob/#podcast \nhttps://x.com/craigmalrob\n\nhttps://www.instagram.com/jayshetty\nhttps://www.facebook.com/jayshetty/\nhttps://x.com/jayshetty\nhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/shettyjay/\nhttps://www.youtube.com/@JayShettyPodcast\nhttp://jayshetty.me","options":{"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"_end":{"label":"End on","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"_start":{"label":"Start from","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":"1611"}},"provider_name":"YouTube","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f8NT_PVXzR8/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"MICHELLE OBAMA: This Is What Scares Me Most In Today’s America (The Method I Use To Stay Hopeful)","type":"video","url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8NT_PVXzR8","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{"fonts":{"primary":{},"accent":{},"caption":{}}},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://www.huffpost.com","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isAdsFree":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"680fff49e4b0c99c9f24126c","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/michelle-obama-jay-shetty-fear-trump-second-term_n_680fff49e4b0c99c9f24126c","entryTagsList":"donald-trump,immigration,michelle-obama,podcast,jay-shetty,@us_huffpost_now,livingintheblack","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"us-news","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayer":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22","noAdsPlayer":"deeeda04-49cb-4a1d-ac6c-c388a685b58e"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"https://img.connatix.com/bfd059c5-dfd1-4a91-b1fa-fe12e9cad751/1_th.jpg?crop=629:354,smart&width=629&height=354&format=jpeg&quality=60&fit=crop","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":13},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"680fff49e4b0c99c9f24126c","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/donald-trump","permalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/donald-trump","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/donald-trump"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/donald-trump"},{"name":"Immigration","slug":"immigration","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/immigration","permalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/immigration","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/immigration"},"relegenceSubjectId":980421,"department":{"name":"Impact","slug":"impact"},"section":{"title":"Impact","slug":"impact"},"topic":{"title":"Social Justice","slug":"social-justice","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/impact/topic/social-justice"},{"name":"Michelle Obama","slug":"michelle-obama","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/michelle-obama","permalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/michelle-obama","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/michelle-obama"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Obama Family","slug":"obama-family","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/obama-family"},{"name":"podcast","slug":"podcast","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/podcast","permalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/podcast","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/podcast"},"department":{"name":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"section":{"title":"Culture & Arts","slug":"arts"},"topic":{"title":"Podcasts","slug":"podcasts","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/entertainment/topic/podcasts"},{"name":"jay shetty","slug":"jay-shetty","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/jay-shetty","permalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/jay-shetty","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/jay-shetty"},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/jay-shetty"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"backfillRelatedArticles":[{"editionId":"us","headline":"Michelle Obama Asks Who’s Gonna Tell Trump He Might Be Seeking ‘One Of Those Black Jobs’","defaultImage":{"type":"hector","url":"https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/66c55da82200003300bf2c44.jpeg","queryParams":{"cache":"wUywwRevJC"},"width":5784,"height":3856,"credit":"CHARLY TRIBALLEAU via Getty Images","ops":""},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/michelle-obama-donald-trump-black-jobs-dnc_n_66c55a7fe4b0f1ca46932bed","dek":"The former first lady shaded Donald Trump’s racist remarks about \"Black jobs.\""},{"editionId":"us","headline":"Michelle Obama Finally Addresses Why She Skipped Trump’s Inauguration","defaultImage":{"type":"hector","url":"https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/680903071500002500cd6654.jpeg","queryParams":{"cache":"8jvMg1iQCN"},"width":5291,"height":3527,"credit":"via Associated Press","ops":""},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/michelle-obama-finally-addresses-why-she-skpped-trump-inauguration_n_68090284e4b00850c6839c55","dek":"\"It started with not having anything to wear,\" the former first lady explained. \"I was like, if I’m not going to do this thing, I got to tell my team, I don’t even want to have a dress ready, right?\""},{"editionId":"us","headline":"Michelle Obama’s Response To Puzzling Divorce Rumors Hits On 1 Common Issue — And It’s Brutal","defaultImage":{"type":"hector","url":"https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/67f81ccb1700002400e1c1cc.jpeg","queryParams":{"cache":"Gj7AeRbxg1"},"width":5291,"height":3527,"credit":"via Associated Press","ops":""},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/michelle-obama-divorce-rumors-women-expectations_l_67f7e41ae4b059106586de00","dek":"The former first lady addressed an issue that’s too common for many women — and one that therapists say can be harmful for your mental health."},{"editionId":"us","headline":"Michelle Obama Didn’t Care If Barack Was Broke. Here’s Why.","defaultImage":{"type":"hector","url":"https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/67ef1c571b00002600053168.jpeg","queryParams":{"cache":"2774MRrfRt"},"width":4928,"height":3264,"credit":"Anadolu via Getty Images","ops":""},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/michelle-obama-didnt-care-if-barack-was-broke-heres-why_n_67eeccb7e4b0099618209bb6","dek":"The former first lady had a blunt answer when asked if she would date someone who was \"not financially sound.\""},{"editionId":"us","headline":"Michelle Obama Speaks Out About Divorce Rumors, And You Can Tell She’s Had Enough","defaultImage":{"type":"hector","url":"https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/67f68cb61700002400e1bfc2.jpeg","queryParams":{"cache":"oTVO2zrGBZ"},"width":5221,"height":3481,"credit":"Julia Beverly via Getty Images","ops":""},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/michelle-obama-speaks-out-divorce-rumors-enough_n_67f68ab8e4b0f546f7a16abb","dek":"“People couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself,” the former first lady said."}],"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-1\", \"entry_paragraph_1\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-2\", \"entry_paragraph_3\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-infinite\", \"repeating_dynamic_display\", false, false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}”>

[embedded content]

Comments are closed.