Kamala Harris Says America Is Ready for a Woman President, Pushes Back Against Michelle Obama

Former Vice President Kamala Harris told The New York Times she believes the United States is ready to elect its first female president, directly contradicting recent remarks by former First Lady Michelle Obama.

In a wide-ranging interview published under the headline "Kamala Harris Isn’t Ready to Be Written Off," Harris pointed to the energy and turnout at her book tour events as evidence that voters remain engaged and receptive to female leadership.

Then-Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris greets former first lady Michelle Obama during a campaign rally at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Oct. 26, 2024.

"I do believe the country is ready," Harris told The New York Times when asked about the prospect of a woman serving as president.

The Times reported that at a stop in Nashville Harris referred to a future female president as "whoever she may be," drawing loud applause from the Ryman Auditorium audience. "Thousands of people are coming to hear my voice. Thousands and thousands," she said, adding that "every place we’ve gone has been sold out."

Context And Obama’s Comments

Last month, Michelle Obama said the country "ain’t ready" to elect a woman, remarks she made while promoting her new book, The Look, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Obama suggested the nation still has "a lot of growing up to do," and pointed to resistance from some voters as a barrier to electing a woman — a view she linked to the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.

Michelle Obama speaks onstage during a live recording of the "IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson" podcast at the Austin Convention Center during the 2025 SXSW Conference and Festival on March 13.

"That’s why I’m like, don’t even look at me about running, because you all are lying. You’re not ready for a woman. You are not," Obama said at the event.

What This Means

The exchange between Harris and Obama has sparked a national debate about whether gender remains a decisive factor in presidential politics. Harris has not ruled out a future presidential bid and declined to commit to a 2028 run in the Times interview, noting the election is still years away.

She also reflected on her legacy, saying she expects to be remembered among the country’s vice presidents. "There will be a marble bust of me in Congress. I am a historic figure like any vice president of the United States ever was," Harris told the Times.