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Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly delivered a lengthy critique of former First Lady Michelle Obama during an episode of “The Megyn Kelly Show,” reacting to comments Obama made on her podcast, “IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson.”
Kelly opened by claiming Obama has “been everywhere,” saying the former first lady is “trying to build her brand and trying to build her very sad little podcast.”
Her main focus was a clip in which Obama told Keke Palmer that media outlets discussed her clothing before the substance of one of her early political speeches. According to the clip Kelly played, Obama said, “And I realized, ‘Oh, this is how they do women in politics. This is how we treat women in public life.’ We diminish them to just what they look like and not what I’m saying.”
During the same conversation, Obama described herself as a skilled public speaker, saying her ability to deliver “impassioned speeches” is nothing new. “That didn’t just start. I was always a powerful orator,” she shared.
Kelly responded, “Oh my God, she is dripping in narcissism. Dripping in it. Would you at least feign some humility? I’m embarrassed for you.”
She also challenged Obama’s assessment of her speaking ability. “You’re actually not that great. You’re fine, but you seem very scripted and artificial to me, if I’m honest. You don’t speak from the heart.”
Referring to Obama’s speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Kelly added, “You didn’t move me at all… you felt a little recycled and tired, if I’m being honest.”
Fashion and media coverage debate
Kelly rejected Obama’s claim that media attention on her clothing was intended to diminish her.
“The reason they wrote about your fashion is because yes, you’re a woman. It wasn’t to diminish you,” Kelly said. “They do it to every female politician. And it’s not to diminish them. It’s because it’s interesting. It’s part of your look. It’s part of your messaging.”
She argued male politicians receive less attention for their clothing because they tend to dress similarly, adding outlets “would do it to men, too, if men dressed differently from one another.”
Kelly pointed to the attention Barack Obama received in 2014 for wearing a tan suit during a White House press conference on the U.S. military response to ISIS in Syria, adding sarcastically, “We wrote about it. Oh, that was our racism. I forgot.”
She maintained that discussion of women’s fashion reflects public interest rather than sexism. “The women do tend to take more risks. And then it gets more interesting. It’s fun to talk about,” she added.
Megyn then used an expletive to reject Michelle’s characterization of the coverage, telling her to “stop making everything an attack on you,” and calling her “thin-skinned.”
She also noted that Michelle has appeared on the cover of Vogue multiple times and published a fashion-focused book titled The Look, arguing those facts undercut her complaints. “She wants to be known for her fashion, but it has to be on her terms,” Megyn said. “She finds grievance in everything.”
Personal attacks on the Obamas
Megyn broadened her criticism to Michelle’s family, suggesting her personality had affected those around her.
She said, “This is what poor Barack has been dealing with for 20, 30 years now. I mean, no wonder the guy is so gray so prematurely. No wonder the girls fled the coop and you never see pictures really with the four of them. I’m sure they’re so happy to be rid of this non-stop Negative Nelly all the time.”
Her comments contrasted with the family’s recent public appearances. Barack shared photos with daughters Malia Obama and Sasha Obama for Father’s Day in June and also posted family photos during Thanksgiving 2025 and Mother’s Day.
Michelle shared a video with her daughters for Malia’s birthday earlier in July. The family was also photographed together at the dedication of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago in June.
Background
This is not the first time Megyn has criticized Michelle’s podcast.
After the debut episode of “IMO,” in which Michelle discussed her marriage, Megyn said she believed Michelle and her husband had “married the wrong people,” disputing her characterization of long marriages as including difficult periods.
Megyn also posted a parody video on social media in which she impersonated Michelle as “Megyn O.,” mocking her comments about marriage and family, including remarks on “The Diary of a CEO” podcast about fertility struggles, in vitro fertilization and pregnancy loss. During that interview, Michelle said such experiences can become “the first pressure point in a marriage” if they are not openly discussed.
In a separate broadcast with commentator Tucker Carlson, Megyn suggested Michelle “obviously really dislikes” her husband, criticizing her for referring to herself in the third person while discussing the security protocols surrounding her public appearances.
