Michelle Obama is known for her graceful poise and taking the high road. Her motto in confrontational situations? “When they go low, we go high.” Still, that doesn’t mean she refrains from throwing some stealthy shade when the situation calls for it! Let’s take a look at some of Michelle’s most epic clap backs and examine how she tries to “go high” in response to bullying and adversity.
Turning the Other Cheek – Most of the Time
Michelle firmly believes in “going high” – maintaining grace and dignity even when facing cruelty or confrontation. As she explained on The Late Show, “For me, going high is not losing the urgency or the passion or the rage – especially when you are justified in it.” However, she clarified “If going low worked, we’d do it! It might be a quick fix but it doesn’t fix anything over the long term.”
I don’t know about you, but I struggle to stay calm when someone is blatantly rude or insulting. Kudos to Michelle for having the inner poise to take the high road! Still, the woman is only human…
When FLOTUS Gets Feisty: Her Most Epic Burns
Though she advocates grace under pressure, even Michelle has her limits! Here are some times when she got gloriously feisty:
Barack the Slacker
In a recent interview, Michelle got candid about the early years of marriage to Barack:
“People think I’m being catty saying this, but there were 10 years where I couldn’t stand my husband! The kids were little, I was trying to build my career, and worrying about school and childcare. Barack was jetting off on book trips and playing golf. I was like ‘This isn’t even!’”
Preach it, sister! Even becoming President doesn’t exempt a husband from household duties.
Her Scathing Critique of Trump
Michelle’s memoir “Becoming” pulled no punches regarding her view of Donald Trump. She slammed his pushing of birtherism conspiracy theories, saying:
“What if someone with an unstable mind loaded a gun and drove to Washington? What if they went looking for our girls?”
To this day, she remains critical of Trump’s rhetoric. In a recent podcast, she shared:
“I’m terrified about what could happen in the next election…It affects us in ways I think people take for granted.”
Shots fired! She may be dignified, but she’s not mincing words.
Her stealthy Twitter clapback
After Trump insulted Rep. Elijah Cummings and his district in 2019, Michelle tweeted in support of a Baltimore dance team:
“I’m shouting out the Lethal Ladies, a Baltimore step team who I saw perform back in 2017. I’m so proud of you all!”
A graceful way to take a stand against bullying.
Final Thoughts
While Michelle Obama believes in taking the high road, she understands that’s not always possible or even the most effective approach. As she explains, “going high” is about maintaining dignity and forward focus, not acquiescence.
I’m endlessly impressed by Michelle’s ability to handle adversity and confrontation with grace. She’s a reminder that the high road often reaps greater long-term rewards than a petty clapback. Still, her occasionalspice makes it clear she’s as human as the rest of us!
