Conservative broadcaster Megyn Kelly torched former first lady Michelle Obama in a fiery monologue on Monday, accusing the 62-year-old of narcissism and thin-skinned grievance, before pivoting to gleefully cheer on the prospect of former Vice President Kamala Harris seeking the presidency again in 2028. The nearly 12-minute takedown, delivered on the July 20 episode of “The Megyn Kelly Show,” placed two leading Democratic figures in the broadcaster’s crosshairs during a single episode.
Megyn Kelly, 55, directed her initial criticism at comments Michelle Obama made during a recorded discussion with actress Keke Palmer for Obama’s podcast, “IMO.” The conversation was recorded in front of an audience at the Essence Festival in New Orleans on July 3 and made available to listeners the following Thursday. In the segment that provoked Kelly’s response, Obama described how news coverage of one of her early campaign speeches focused on her clothing rather than the substance of her remarks.
According to Obama, the incident demonstrated how female public figures are often judged by their looks rather than their substance. During the conversation, she also spoke confidently about her abilities as a public speaker, noting her long-standing skill at delivering compelling addresses.
A Blistering Personal Attack
Kelly made her disdain evident, rolling her eyes before challenging Obama’s self-evaluation and suggesting the former first lady should show more modesty. Kelly characterized Obama’s speaking style as wooden and scripted. She criticized Obama’s 2024 Democratic National Convention speech as stale and unoriginal, and defended fashion coverage of female politicians as legitimate journalism. Kelly argued that women in politics dress more boldly than their male counterparts, making their wardrobe choices newsworthy, while men’s conventional attire offers little to report.
The former Fox News host then defended journalists who write about the fashion choices of women in politics, arguing it was not an attempt to belittle anyone. Female politicians take more sartorial risks, Kelly contended, which makes their clothing more interesting to cover. Male politicians, she added, tend to dress alike and give reporters little to discuss.
Kelly used explicit language while dismissing claims that fashion coverage constitutes sexism. She accused Obama of playing the victim and said the former first lady should stop interpreting legitimate commentary as hostile.
Kelly pointed to Obama’s multiple Vogue cover appearances and her 2024 fashion book, “The Look,” as evidence that Obama welcomes attention to her style but objects when the coverage isn’t flattering. Kelly also referenced the media attention given to former President Barack Obama’s tan suit in 2014, ridiculing suggestions that the coverage had racial undertones.
Dragging the Obama Family Into It
Kelly extended her criticism beyond Michelle Obama to the former president, 64, speculating that his graying hair resulted from years of marriage to a pessimistic spouse. She also made claims about the couple’s daughters, suggesting they were unpleasant and had created distance from their mother, and asserted the family was seldom photographed together.
That characterization sits uneasily with the family’s recent public appearances. Barack Obama posted a photo of daughters Malia, 28, and Sasha, 25, on social media in June for Father’s Day, shared a family photo last Thanksgiving, and published an older family photograph in May for Mother’s Day. Michelle Obama also posted a video featuring both daughters to mark Malia’s birthday in early July. The full Obama family was also photographed together at the dedication ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, which opened June 18.
Kelly also argued that Michelle Obama received gentler media treatment than other political spouses because of her race and her husband’s rising status. She contended that reporters hesitated to criticize Obama and that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin faced far harsher scrutiny.
Cheering On a Harris Comeback
Later in the broadcast, Megyn Kelly shifted to reports that Kamala Harris is being considered by Democrats as a potential nominee in the 2028 presidential election. Dripping with sarcasm, she thanked Democrats for weighing another run, mocking Harris for spending a billion dollars in 107 days during her 2024 campaign only to lose every swing state.
Kelly’s enthusiasm was strategic. She has long criticized Harris as a candidate, and she made clear she believes another Harris campaign would benefit Republicans. Kelly said the more voters saw of Harris, the less they liked her, and she urged Democrats to let her run again.
She closed the segment by imagining a Harris debate against Vice President JD Vance or Sen. Marco Rubio, sarcastically predicting the former vice president would shine in such a matchup. The remark capped a broadcast that used Obama and Harris as twin punching bags, framing both women as liabilities for the Democratic Party heading into the next election cycle.