Obama describes post-presidency life as ‘player to coach’

“Move from player to coach, essentially... I tried to be a little bit disciplined about recognizing that I'd moved on to a new phase where I did not have formal power.”

“I thought I was going to be able to remove myself more from being out there in public ... coach the next generation of leadership. Move from player to coach, essentially.”

“As the Foundation’s signature leadership initiative, the Leaders Program ... connects and empowers emerging leaders aged 24–45… That mission begins on the South Side of Chicago, where the Foundation is building the Obama Presidential Center.”

“What I've tried to do is to move from player to coach,” he said; the article cites an ABC/Good Morning America segment and summarizes that the Foundation/Center aim to encourage the next generation.

Former president Barack Obama returned to the campaign trail ... delivering a drive‑in rally in Philadelphia on Oct. 21, 2020, to stump for Joe Biden — an example of continuing active political engagement after leaving office.

Obama released lists of candidates he planned to support in the 2018 midterms and campaigned for several — illustrating ongoing direct political involvement rather than a complete withdrawal to a purely coaching role.

"It is doubtful that any agreement that arises is going to be significantly different, or in a significant improvement from the deal that we had in the first place and had worked for, for a long stretch of time before we, the United States, pulled out of it," Obama told Roberts in the interview (recorded June 13, 2026).

Most recently, Barack Obama criticized the Trump administration’s peace deal to end the Iran war, arguing it’s “doubtful” the agreement will differ significantly from the 2015 nuclear deal.

Former President Barack Obama said it is “doubtful” that President Donald Trump’s emerging agreement with Iran will differ significantly from the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated during his administration.

Following Trump’s June 14 announcement that a new deal had been reached, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed the deal had been finalized and said it would be signed in Switzerland; ABC notes the interview with Obama was recorded the day before Trump’s announcement.

While on her book tour, she appeared on podcasts and held events in major cities, where she made headlines for saying the country was “not ready for a woman” president. The former first lady made the comment while shutting down calls for her to run for president, saying a White House bid from her is “never going to happen.”

Michelle Obama in Conversation with Tracee Ellis Ross — The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in New York (live podcast taping for The Look).

Episode 15 of Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce — March 20, 2025 — features Michelle Obama. Coverage of the episode reports she answered questions about running and said in the interview that a run was 'never going to happen.'

During a live chat about her new book, The Look, with Tracee Ellis Ross at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) on Nov. 5, 'That's why I'm like, 'Don't even look at me about running, 'cause you all are lying,' 'You're not ready for a woman,' she said.