Trump supporters criticized the New Year’s message from former First Lady Michelle Obama, which they described as “gloomy.” The Instagram post came a few weeks prior to the anticipated return of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House, following his significant win over Vice President Kamala Harris.
Michelle Obama delivered a hopeful 90-second video message acknowledging current challenges while encouraging optimism. She empathized with widespread feelings of anxiety and uncertainty but emphasized that hope remains abundant despite recent difficult months.
Trump supporters were quick to criticize the message. “Twenty-four more days, and we are out of this nightmare you and your husband created for the American people!” a commenter responded. Another chimed in, “What a joke. Trump can hopefully fix the mess your husband has gotten this country into.”
The video highlighted the efforts of the Obama Foundation in assisting young global changemakers and showed the ongoing construction at the Obama Presidential Center. This $830 million project, located on Chicago’s South Side in Illinois, will feature a 19-acre campus with a museum, forum building, plaza, athletic center, and public park by its projected opening in 2025.
The negative response followed Trump’s impressive win in November, where he gained 312 electoral votes to Harris’s 226. This created one of the largest electoral vote margins in recent history, surprising many after pre-election polls had predicted Harris having a slight advantage in key states.
Michelle Obama played a key role in the campaign, delivering 30+ speeches supporting Harris. In a pivotal Pennsylvania rally near election day, she critiqued divisive leadership and hate speech, implicitly referencing Trump’s rhetoric about calling people “bimbo,” “low IQ,” and “human scum.”
The former First Lady’s campaign language was a stark departure from her well-known 2016 mantra, “When they go low, we go high.” In a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania rally in October 2024, she referred to Trump as a “skilled con man” before a crowd of over 25,000 supporters.
After the election results were announced, Barack and Michelle Obama released a joint statement expressing their disappointment but emphasizing the importance of national unity. They recognized that in the diverse American society, disagreements are bound to occur. However, they stressed that progress is only possible when individuals extend grace and good faith to those with differing opinions.
The contentious New Year’s message has garnered over 500,000 likes and 8,700 comments on Instagram, drawing a range of responses largely divided along party lines. While Trump supporters celebrated his impending return to the White House, Obama’s followers were appreciative of her message of hope and resilience.
The video was released around the same time as the Obama Foundation’s 2024 annual report, which detailed $240 million in new donations and partnerships with 160 civic organizations across 12 cities.
The Obama Presidential Center’s construction maintains steady progress in Chicago, undeterred by internet debates. The project stands out particularly for its community integration, having created job opportunities for hundreds of neighborhood residents. Looking ahead, the Foundation’s momentum continues with multiple high-profile events scheduled for this year.