Barack Obama Reacts to Oldest Daughter Malia Dropping Her Last Name

Mar. 15, 2025

Barack Obamais opening up about his daughterMalia Obama’s decision to drop the family name in her professional life.

“I was all like, ‘You do know they’ll know who you are,' " Barack said of his reaction to the name change onThe Pivot Podcaston Thursday, Oct. 29. “And she’s all like, ‘You know what? I want them to watch it that first time and not in any way have that association.' So I think our daughters go out of their way to not try to leverage that.”

Barack said during the interview that his daughters, including 23-year-old Sasha, have been intent on working their way into their careers rather than relying on their parents' fame.

“The challenge for [Michelle and me] is letting us give them any help at all,” the former president said. “I mean they’re very sensitive about this stuff. They’re very stubborn about it.”

U.S. President Barack Obama (L) delivers remarks with his daughter Malia during the annual turkey pardoning ceremony in the Rose Garden at the White House on November 25, 2015 in Washington, DC.Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Barack, 63, explained that the attention Malia and Sasha have received since they have gotten older and left the White House “drives them nuts.”

“Their attitude is, ‘We’re not looking for all that,' " he added. “So they’re grounded.”

Michelle, Sasha, Barack and Malia Obama pose for a photo shared on Thanksgiving 2019.

Reflecting on how political journalists covered the Obamas during his time as president, Barack explained that he “basically made a deal with the press pool.”

“I said, ‘You can follow me around,’ " he continued. “‘You can talk about me. You do whatever you need to do. Leave my children alone because they have the right to grow up. They didn’t choose this. Let them grow up.’ And to the credit of the press they did leave them alone.”

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Just last month, Malia attended the 50th annualDeauville American Film Festivalin France, where she presentedThe Heart.

It was a new setting for Malia, who washonored with the Young Spirit award at the festival, and she admitted she wasn’t used to life on the red carpet while speaking at the event.

“I’m so excited. I mean, I’ve never done anything like this … so of course [I’m] a little bit terrified, but mostly just excited,” the filmmaker toldParis Matchin a clip shared to TikTok.

source: people.com