Michelle Obama said Americans don't want a woman to be president, and that's why they shouldn't look to her to run for the nation's highest office.

"As we saw in this past election, sadly, we ain’t ready," Obama said. "That’s why I’m like, don’t even look at me about running, because you all are lying. You’re not ready for a woman. You are not."

The former first lady and wife of President Barack Obama made the comments Nov. 14 in a conversation with Tracee Ellis Ross at the Brooklyn Academy of Music promoting her new book, "The Look."

"So don't waste my time," she continued. "We got a lot of growing up to do, and there are still, sadly, a lot of men who feel like they cannot be led by a woman, and we saw it. I think we still have growing to do in that regard."

Obama was often more popular than her husband while he was president, but has often said she would not run for president. A 2024 poll taken while Democrats considered dropping President Joe Biden suggested that only Obama could beat President Donald Trump.

But two of the last three Democratic nominees for president have nonetheless been women — Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Kamala Harris. Both lost to Trump.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'We ain't ready.' Michelle Obama says the country doesn't want a woman president.

Reporting by Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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