Michelle Obama sends message to fearful Americans: 'All we have is hope'

Christina Gregg
Updated ·2 min read
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Michelle Obama addressed Americans feeling fearful in the current political climate on Thursday, telling them to "show empathy" toward each other.

The former first lady's statements came during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres that aired on Thursday. DeGeneres said she herself has felt frightened in the past year, prompting Obama to respond.

"People are afraid but then there are people who feel good about the direction of the country, so I mean, that's what makes this country complicated because it's made up of so many different people from different backgrounds," she said. "I mean, we are this mosh pit of society and sometimes there's a rub."

"We show empathy, we care for each other, you know, we do have a lot in common. That's what it means to lead with hope and not fear," Obama continued. "And that's all we have, is hope."

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The wife of former President Barack Obama also encouraged viewers to tune out the beltway rhetoric and instead focus on kindness and compassion.

"The thing I learned in the eight years that I was in the White House is that what we do every day in our lives, the good things that we do every day — and we know we do it: we show empathy, we care for each other, you know, we do have a lot in common," Obama said. "That’s what it means to lead with hope and not fear."

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"I would just encourage your viewers, the country, to do the things we do every day: to love each other, to take care of each other, to show empathy — and you can’t do that only when people make you feel good or safe. We’ve got to do it all across the board."

The Obamas have maintained a relatively steady public profile in their first year out of the White House, and Michelle Obama has at times been more vocal than her husband in commenting on the historic 2016 election results.

In September 207, the former first lady said women who voted against Hillary Clinton "voted against their own voice."

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