Former First Lady Michelle Obama has criticized President Donald Trump for refusing to honor the election results, and begin the “smooth transition” to a Joe Biden administration.
Mrs. Obama shared a photo of herself on Instagram, walking hand-in-hand with former President Barack Obama on Jan. 20, 2017, their final day in office.
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After stating that she was “hurt and disappointed” as Trump took office, the “Becoming” author said the “American people had spoken” when Hillary Clinton lost the election by a close margin in 2016, and the Obama administration had to begin the process of a peaceful transition of power.
“My husband and I instructed our staffs to do what George and Laura Bush had done for us: run a respectful, seamless transition of power—one of the hallmarks of American democracy,” Mrs. Obama wrote. “We invited the folks from the president-elect’s team into our offices and prepared detailed memos for them, offering what we’d learned over the past eight years.”
The former first lady added that she had to find the grace to put her personal feelings aside after Trump had spread conspiracy theories about her husband’s birthplace.
“I have to be honest and say that none of this was easy for me. Donald Trump had spread racist lies about my husband that had put my family in danger,” she added. “That wasn’t something I was ready to forgive. But I knew that, for the sake of our country, I had to find the strength and maturity to put my anger aside.”
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She continued by saying “our democracy is so much bigger than anybody’s ego,” and whatever the results are of an election, they must be respected.
“This isn’t a game. So I want to urge all Americans, especially our nation’s leaders, regardless of party, to honor the electoral process and do your part to encourage a smooth transition of power, just as sitting presidents have done throughout our history,” she shared.
With a little over two months to go until President-elect Joe Biden takes office, Trump has refused to acknowledge the election outcome. While speaking to reporters Monday about the COVID-19 crisis, Biden warned “more people may die if we don’t coordinate.”
The presidential inauguration is set for January 20, 2021.
