Kevin Dietsch - Pool/Getty Images
- Michelle Obama appeared on an episode of Jay Shetty's "On Purpose" podcast released Monday.
- The former first lady said she's "terrified" of the potential 2024 election outcome.
- She also took a subtle dig at Donald Trump without naming him.
Michelle Obama revealed she's "terrified" of the potential outcome of the 2024 election and took a subtle dig at Donald Trump on an episode of Jay Shetty's "On Purpose" podcast released Monday.
When asked what keeps her up at night, the former first lady told Shetty that "we cannot take this democracy for granted."
"What's going to happen in this next election? I'm terrified about what could possibly happen because our leaders matter," she said. "Who we select, who speaks for us, who holds that bully pulpit, it affects us in ways sometimes I think people take for granted."
President Joe Biden is up for reelection in 2024, with Trump remaining the frontrunner for the nomination in the Republican primary race, according to FiveThirtyEight polls.
Without naming him directly, Obama also appeared to reference the litany of pending investigations and lawsuits surrounding Trump's businesses and presidential campaign.
"The bars are different for people in life. That I've learned," she said. "Other people can be indicted a bunch of times and still run for office. Black men can't. You just learn to be good. And in the end, you benefit from that extra resilience."
In the interview, Shetty asked Obama what her time as first lady taught her about herself. She said that while the White House "tests you in ways that you never anticipated," she was grateful to have emerged from the experience as a strong family unit.
"The fact that we came out as a family, as individuals, the four of us, me and our two daughters — that was us," she said. "That was our values, our compassion, our smarts, our strategy, that got us through."
Watch the full interview here: