NOVEMBER 17, 2020
Democratic National Convention Former First Lady, Michelle Obama delivers the keynote address to viewers during the Democratic National Convention at the Wisconsin Center.
Reflecting on her own transition out of the White House in 2017, former first lady Michelle Obama is urging American leaders to help ensure a “smooth transition of power” between President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden.
In a lengthy Instagram post shared Monday, Obama, 56, recalled husband and former President Barack Obama’s transition after Trump won the 2016 election, during which the couple worked to help prepare the Trump administration for the tasks ahead, just as “George and Laura Bush had done for us.” They offered meetings and “detailed memos” to Donald and Melania Trump to share what they had learned during Obama’s two terms.
“I have to be honest and say that none of this was easy for me,” Obama wrote. “Donald Trump had spread racist lies about my husband that had put my family in danger. That wasn’t something I was ready to forgive. But I knew that, for the sake of our country, I had to find the strength and maturity to put my anger aside.”
The outgoing and incoming first ladies sat down in the White House, where Obama remembered answering questions from Melania Trump on “heightened scrutiny” in the position and what it was like to raise children from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
“I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do — because our democracy is so much bigger than anybody’s ego,” Obama continued. “Our love of country requires us to respect the results of an election even when we don’t like them or wish it had gone differently—the presidency doesn’t belong to any one individual or any one party. To pretend that it does, to play along with these groundless conspiracy theories — whether for personal or political gain — is to put our country’s health and security in danger. This isn’t a game.”
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Obama staunchly criticized Trump in the months leading up to the election. Her post comes as the president continues to file lawsuits in key states to prompt recounts, despite Biden reaching the necessary 270 electoral votes Nov. 7. Conceding is not required by U.S. law, though every losing candidate in modern history has followed the tradition.
“I want to urge all Americans, especially our nation’s leaders, regardless of party, to honor the electoral process and do your part to encourage a smooth transition of power, just as sitting presidents have done throughout our history,” Obama concluded.
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Courtesy/Source: This article originally appeared on USA TODAY
