Barack Obama believes the United States will eventually elect its first female president. The former commander-in-chief said he expects that milestone to happen during his lifetime, even if he didn’t name anyone in particular.
Obama shared the prediction while reflecting on the lasting impact of his own historic presidency in a wide-ranging interview. He said true progress comes when groundbreaking moments eventually stop feeling groundbreaking.
Barack Obama says US will get first female President in his lifetime
Looking back on his 2008 election as the nation’s first Black president, Obama said he always hoped it would change how young people viewed their own potential. He explained that many children who grew up during his presidency came to see that achievement as something possible rather than extraordinary.
“I think there are kids who, growing up under my presidency, said, ‘Yeah, of course you can have a Black president. Why not?’” Obama told PEOPLE.
He believes the same shift will happen when the country elects its first woman to the Oval Office.
“I’m confident that when we get a female president, which we will get sometime soon in my lifetime, it’ll become normalized, and that’s what we want,” Obama said in his interview with PEOPLE.
The former president suggested that, over time, voters will focus less on history-making milestones and more on everyday issues affecting their lives. He said conversations will eventually move beyond gender and toward concerns like the economy, policy, and the cost of living.
Obama also predicted that a female presidency will eventually stop being viewed as remarkable. Instead, he believes Americans will evaluate a woman in the White House the same way they discuss any other president.
His comments come as women continue to make gains across American politics while the presidency remains out of reach. Female candidates have secured seats in Congress, governorships, and statewide offices, but none has yet won the nation’s highest office.
Michelle Obama also reflected on her husband’s legacy during the conversation with PEOPLE. She said the symbolism of his presidency extended beyond race. “I think that what Barack offered this country was a mature president, a highly intelligent president, a selfless president,” she said. “I think that those characteristics are as important as race.”
For Barack Obama, the ultimate goal is simple. History may remember the first female president as a milestone, but he hopes future generations simply see it as normal.
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