December 21, 2024 at 11:47am EST
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Michelle and Barack Obama’s two children, Malia and Sasha, are adults now, but they still need help from mom and dad from time to time. The former first lady revealed exactly how she and her husband weigh in with their parenting assistance — and there are quite a few people who can relate to this situation.
Malia, 26, and Sasha, 23, both live in Los Angeles after their undergrad experiences. Malia graduated from Harvard University in 2021, and Sasha graduated from the University of Southern California in 2023 after transferring from the University of Michigan ahead of her senior year. Malia is working as a writer and director in Hollywood and Sasha is back in school, presumably for her master’s degree — but they still call on mom and dad when it comes to finances sometimes.
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“They’re women in the world. Living on their own. Paying rent… ish,” Michelle admitted on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Dec. 20. “They live together.” Hey, Los Angeles rent is expensive! And it’s a very relatable moment in your 20s when you are a bit short on rent — it happens even to the former first daughters. Michelle understands how hard budgeting money can be when you’re establishing your career and she’s so proud of the young women they’ve become.
“They are smart, they are funny,” The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times author added. “They’re wise in their own ways and I love spending time with them – they’re doing great. They’re really good.” In October, the former president also talked about how his daughters fought for their independence despite having such famous parents. “The challenge for us is letting us give them any help at all,” he said on the Oct. 31 episode of the podcast The Pivot. “They’re very sensitive about this stuff. They’re very stubborn about it.”
Malia made headlines at the Sundance Film Festival in January for submitting her short film, The Heart, under her first and middle names only: Malia Ann. Barack Obama had some thoughts that differed from his eldest daughter. “I was all like, ‘You do know they’ll know who you are?'” Barack Obama continued. “And she’s all like, ‘You know what? I want them to watch it that first time, and not in any way we have that association.'”
Barack Obama knows that Malia and Sasha are well aware of the “nepo baby” label and they “go out of their way to not try to leverage that.” The two sisters are working their way up the career ladder, but they aren’t leaning into their time in the White House. But as roommates, they might need a little help paying the rent — and that’s where mom and dad come into play.
Before you go, click here to see the sweetest photos of Barack Obama with his daughters Malia & Sasha!
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