Michelle Obama will not run in the 2024 US presidential election

Despite speculation that the former first lady could replace President Biden on the Democratic ticket, she says she and Barack Obama will be supporting his re-election
David Charter
, Washington
The Times
Michelle Obama would be the top choice among Democrats to replace President Biden, according to a recent poll
Michelle Obama would be the top choice among Democrats to replace President Biden, according to a recent poll
WEISS EUBANKS/NBCUNIVERSAL/GETTY IMAGES
David Charter
, Washington
The Times

Michelle Obama, the fantasy candidate of Democrats dreaming of an alternative to Joe Biden, has ruled herself out from running for president.

In recent months it has also become the fever dream of Republican conspiracy theorists that there is a secret plan to parachute the former first lady in at the Democratic convention in her home city of Chicago in August to replace the 81-year-old Biden.

Obama, 60, is nothing if not consistent, however. While she intends to play a role in helping Biden’s re-election campaign, it will not be as a replacement for either him or Kamala Harris, the vice-president.

• Who could replace Joe Biden as the Democrats’ nominee for 2024?

The former first lady could still prove critical in helping Biden’s re-election campaign
The former first lady could still prove critical in helping Biden’s re-election campaign
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

“As former first lady Michelle Obama has expressed several times over