Michelle Obama calls husband Barack Obama ‘cheap’ as she reflects on Christmas gifting traditions

In a sneak peek of 'The Jennifer Hudson Show', Michelle Obama could be seen jokingly calling out her husband for his frustrating habits
PUBLISHED DEC 17, 2024
Michelle Obama revealed that her husband Barack Obama is the hardest person to buy gifts for in their family (Getty Images)
Michelle Obama revealed that her husband Barack Obama is the hardest person to buy gifts for in their family (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Michelle Obama is reflecting on her family’s Christmas tradition while claiming that her husband, former president Barack Obama is the hardest person to choose gifts for. 

Commenting on her husband’s idiosyncrasies regarding holiday gifting, the former first lady shared that Barack can often appear as “cheap” as he is not a spendthrift at all, per Daily Mail.

The 60-year-old mother-of-two is appearing for an interview with Jennifer Hudson on her eponymous show on Tuesday, December 17, where Michelle is set to open up about her family.


 
 
 
 
 
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Michelle Obama calls husband Barack Obama ‘cheap’

In a sneak peek of 'The Jennifer Hudson Show', Michelle Obama could be seen jokingly calling out her husband, Barack Obama, for his frustrating habits, which include him being the most difficult person to shop for gifts during Christmas. 

The former first lady and humanitarian shared in her interview that shopping for Barack can be the hardest thing as he “doesn’t do much".

“I mean, he just doesn't do much,” Michelle spilled to Jennifer Hudson, before adding, “He golfs and there's only so many golf clubs you could get a dude.”

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 14: (L-R) Malia Obama, Sasha Obama, U.S. President Barack Obama, and First Lady Michelle Obama speak onstage at TNT Christmas in Washington 2014 at the National Building Museum on December 14, 2014 in Washington, DC. 25248_002_1217.JPG (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Malia Obama, Sasha Obama, President Barack Obama, and First Lady Michelle Obama speak onstage at TNT Christmas in Washington 2014 at the National Building Museum on December 14, 2014 in Washington, DC (Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

She added, “I already got the clubs, I can't get him another golf shirt. He's really hard and he doesn't want anything.”

Barack's wife of 32 years further shared that a nice letter would suffice for the former POTUS. She reasoned, “I'm trying to get him clothes that he wouldn't buy, you know, cause he's also cheap.”

She further recalled her husband’s frustrating shopping habits, when she once tried to buy Barack an expensive jacket by hiding its price. 

However, the former POTUS got wind of the price, and asked Michelle, “Why'd you spend this much on a jacket?”

Dumbfounded, Michelle said, “I was like, "That's what a gift is"."

Michelle Obama said Barack Obama got ‘cuter’ when she came to  know he was from Hawaii

Continuing in her discussion about their family’s Christmas traditions, Michelle Obama shared that she is the best gift-giver in the family as she is “actually paying attention to everyone” and listening.

She proclaimed, “I'm the one who organizes all the gift-giving,” and explained, “I make sure that all the kids we know are covered, I've got my list.” 

The mother-of-two proudly declared as well, “I'm the one that makes Christmas happen.”

She added, however, that during their courtship days, she fell a little more in love with Barack after knowing he was from Hawaii. 

WASHINGTON - JANUARY 20: President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama walk in the Inaugural Parade on January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, becoming the first African-American to be elected President of the US. (Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images)
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk in the Inaugural Parade on January 20, 2009, in Washington, DC (Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images)

The former first family spends their Christmases in Hawaii. Michelle explained during the interview, “You know my husband grew up in Hawaii - one of the reasons why I married him.”

She candidly added, “...I was like, "OK is this where Christmas is going to be?””

While the couple who share two daughters - Malia, 26, and Sasha, 23 - share Thanksgiving with Michelle’s family, their Christmases are always spent in Hawaii. 

She said, “We do Thanksgiving with my family, but for Christmas, since the girls were little, we've been going to Hawaii,” before elaborating, “His family is there and now it's his sister, my nieces and a bunch of friends who've been joining us for years. We head to the island for a little sun.”

“That's why you got to pick your husband right,” joked Michelle and added, “He got a lot cuter when I found out he was from Hawaii, I was like, "Oh OK"."

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