• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama Had 2 Words to Describe Her White House Exit: ‘Bye Felicia’

By
Laura Stampler/TIME
Laura Stampler/TIME
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Laura Stampler/TIME
Laura Stampler/TIME
Down Arrow Button Icon
December 19, 2018, 11:27 AM ET

Rather than playing out overly sentimental tropes reserved for television series finales, Michelle Obama got real while promoting her best-selling memoir onThe Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon Tuesday when talking about her last day living in the White House.

Before the late night host could even finish asking what was going through Obama’s head when walking onto Air Force One after witnessing President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the former FLOTUS cut him off with two dismissive words: “Bye, Felicia!”

.@MichelleObama on what she was really thinking while waving goodbye after Trump's inauguration: https://t.co/GLJjNIkvZz #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/ptkHStB0Dd

— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) December 19, 2018

While this might not be a complete revelation to those who observed Obama’s much-memed face throughout Trump’s inauguration, her frank response resulted in uproarious laughter from the studio audience.

https://twitter.com/SimonNRicketts/status/822495266087505923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E822495266087505923&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fblogs%2Fin-the-know%2Fin-the-know%2F315346-the-internet-is-having-a-field-day-with-michelle-obama

“Is that what was going through your mind?” Fallon asked after composing himself from doubled over laughter.

“A lot was going on that day,” said the Becoming author, pointing out that her daughters had a sleepover with friends the night before they moved out.

“‘Are you guys kidding me?'” Obama recalled urging her daughters to get going. “‘We’re leaving. You gotta take all your stuff, pick it up. The blankets, the bears.’ They’re all crying, and it was like, ‘Get out. We’ve got to go.'”

And of course, she said with a bemused expression, “There was that, and then the Tiffany’s box.” (Obama had previously revealed on Ellen that Melania Trump had surprised her with the gift of a “lovely frame.”) “It was just all a lot.”

https://twitter.com/soft_sass/status/915587768599711744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E915587768599711744&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Ffortune.com%2F2018%2F01%2F31%2Fmelania-trump-michelle-obama-inauguration-gift-tiffany-box%2F

From calling President Trump a “kook”-inciting “misogynist” to calling out the illusion of leaning in (“because that shit doesn’t work all the time!”), the Becoming author hasn’t pulled any punches in her book or on her book tour.

And considering that the memoir became the best-selling book of 2018 only two weeks after its release, it looks like the American people may be enjoying her candor.

About the Author
By Laura Stampler/TIME
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.


Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Economy
Trump may have shot himself in the foot at the Fed, as Powell could stay on while Miran resigns from White House post
By Eleanor PringleFebruary 4, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Politics
Peter Thiel warns the Antichrist and apocalypse are linked to the ‘end of modernity’ currently happening—and cites Greta Thunberg as a driving example
By Nick LichtenbergFebruary 4, 2026
23 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Success
After decades in the music industry, Pharrell Williams admits he never stops working: ‘If you do what you love everyday, you’ll get paid for free'
By Emma BurleighFebruary 3, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Investing
Tech stocks go into free fall as it dawns on traders that AI has the ability to cut revenues across the board
By Jim EdwardsFebruary 4, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Commentary
I've studied nonviolent resistance in war zones for 20 years and Minnesota reminds me of Colombia, the Philippines and Syria
By Oliver Kaplan and The ConversationFebruary 3, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
In 2026, many employers are ditching merit-based pay bumps in favor of ‘peanut butter raises’
By Emma BurleighFebruary 2, 2026
3 days ago

Latest in

arrow pointing down next to Bitcoin logo
CryptoCryptocurrency
Crypto market in free fall as Bitcoin plunges below $70,000 while shares of Coinbase and Circle tumble
By Carlos GarciaFebruary 5, 2026
2 minutes ago
Amodei
Big TechBattle for Talent
Tech giants are shelling out up to $400k for AI evangelists to defend against surging American skepticism
By Jake AngeloFebruary 5, 2026
35 minutes ago
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy
AIEye on AI
Hey Alexa—Amazon may be teaming up with OpenAI. Here’s why that matters
By Sharon GoldmanFebruary 5, 2026
1 hour ago
Vice President JD Vance looking at a crowd during a speech.
North AmericaU.S. economy
Metals are the new oil, JD Vance pitches to America: ‘There’s no realer thing than critical minerals’
By Tristan BoveFebruary 5, 2026
2 hours ago
Palmer Luckey,
SuccessCareers
Forget a degree—$30 billion defense startup Anduril will fast-track your job application if you can win its AI drone flying contest
By Preston ForeFebruary 5, 2026
2 hours ago
desantis
CommentaryLeadership
Understanding corporate leaders’ muted Minnesota response: the example of Disney, Florida and conservative retaliation
By Alessandro Piazza and The ConversationFebruary 5, 2026
2 hours ago