No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (2025)

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No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (1)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (2)

Facebook posts

stated on August 18, 2020 in a Facebook post:

“How many of you still don't know that Michelle Obama was born Michael Lavaughn Robinson and is a man?”

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (3)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (4)
  • Facebook Fact-checks
  • Facebook posts

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (5)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (6)

Former first lady Michelle Obama speaks during the first night of the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 17, 2020.

By Madison Czopek October 31, 2020

If Your Time is short

  • There is no evidence for this claim.

See the sources for this fact-check

Former First Lady Michelle Obama has been vocal in her support for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and running mate Sen. Kamala Harris ahead of the Nov. 3 election. But her campaigning for the Democratic candidates has once again made Obama the target of online misinformation.

One Facebook post revived gender-focused claims about Obama that have circulated online for years.

"How many of you still don't know that Michelle Obama was born Michael Lavaughn Robinson and is a man?" the post asks.

The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)

There is no evidence that the former first lady was assigned male at birth or ever named "Michael."

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The lack of evidence for the claims hasn’t stopped several people with large platforms from saying Obama is a transgender woman. Alex Jones, host of a conspiracy-focused talk show, has repeatedly pushed these claims on his show.

In 2017, he released a 12-minute video during which he analyzed photos and videos that he believed proved Obama was a transgender woman.

Featured Fact-check

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (8)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (9)

Threads posts

stated on September 23, 2024 in a Threads post

Says John Fetterman said he’s “voting for Trump.”

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (10)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (11)

Our ruling

A Facebook post asks, "How many of you still don't know that Michelle Obama was born Michael Lavaughn Robinson and is a man?"

There is no evidence Obama is a transgender woman or was named "Michael" at birth.

We rate this post Pants on Fire!

Read About Our Process

The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter

Our Sources

Facebook post, Aug. 18, 2020

YouTube, "Michelle Obama's Closing Argument | Joe Biden For President 2020," Oct. 6, 2020

PinkNews, "Right-wingers are spreading rumours that Michelle Obama is trans – again – and it all stems back to this failed Republican congressional candidate," May 18, 2020

The Independent, "'Michelle Obama is transgender, we all know it': Alex Jones claims he has 'proof' the former First Lady is a man," Aug. 25, 2017

CNN, "Joan Rivers jokes Obama is gay, first lady is transgender," Oct. 20, 2014

The Chicago Tribune, "Michelle Obama's burden — and ours," July 26, 2017

PinkNews, "Conspiracy theorist claims Michelle Obama is transgender and we’re so very, very tired," Jan. 7, 2020

Black Youth Project, "On The Blatant Racism of Garrison’s Political Cartoon of Michelle Obama," May 19, 2016

BuzzFeed News, "As A Black Woman, I'm Tired Of Having To Prove My Womanhood," Feb. 27, 2018

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Madison Czopek

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (12)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (13)

Marjorie Taylor Greene

stated on October 7, 2024 in a post on X:

Patents dating back to the 1800s show that people can control the weather.

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (14)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (15)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (16)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (17)

X posts

stated on October 6, 2024 in una publicación en X:

"Los 750 dólares que nuestra generosa administración ha ofrecido a las víctimas del huracán Helene son un PRÉSTAMO! Tienen un año para devolverlo".

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (18)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (19)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (24)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (25)

Facebook posts

stated on October 2, 2024 in a video on Facebook:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency “is confiscating supplies and donations!”

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (26)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (27)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (28)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (29)

X posts

stated on October 4, 2024 in a post on X:

“The $750 from FEMA that Kamala Harris is offering them is actually a loan, not real relief. And that if they don’t pay it back the feds can seize their property.”

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (30)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (31)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (32)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (33)

Instagram posts

stated on September 26, 2024 in an Instagram post:

North Carolina removed 747,00 voters from the voter rolls to try to “steal the election.”

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (34)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (35)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (36)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (37)

Social Media

stated on September 24, 2024 in social media posts:

Project 2025 would “cut” the Federal Emergency Management Agency and “kill federal-backed flood insurance.”

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (38)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (39)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (40)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (41)

JD Vance

stated on September 15, 2024 in a CNN interview:

In Springfield, Ohio, “murders are up by 81%.”

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (42)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (43)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (44)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (45)

Threads posts

stated on September 13, 2024 in a post on Threads:

“ABC lost $27M in ad revenue after advertisers pulled ads from the network after the way they hosted the debate" on Sept. 10.

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (46)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (47)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (52)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (53)

X posts

stated on September 3, 2024 in a video posted on X:

On June 7, 2011, Kamala Harris was involved in a San Francisco hit-and-run crash that injured a woman named Alicia Brown.

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (54)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (55)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (56)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (57)

Social Media

stated on August 29, 2024 in a post on Instagram:

“BREAKING: Illegal Aliens in San Diego, California, tried to hijack 2 school buses filled with children.”

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (58)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (59)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (60)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (61)

Facebook posts

stated on August 25, 2024 in a Facebook post:

“There’s no such thing as menopause.”

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (62)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (63)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (64)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (65)

Instagram posts

stated on August 24, 2024 in an Instagram post:

World Economic Forum “document confirms 6 billion humans will die in 2025.”

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (66)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (67)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (68)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (69)

Bob Casey

stated on August 22, 2024 in a speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention:

“Prices are up because these corporations are scheming to drive them up.”

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (70)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (71)

No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman

  • No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (72)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (73)

    Instagram posts

    stated on October 14, 2024 in an Instagram post:

    The Oregon secretary of state “removed” former President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. JD Vance from “the official state website.”

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (74)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (75)
  • No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (76)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (77)

    Facebook posts

    stated on October 14, 2024 in a Facebook post:

    “Melania Trump declares that she wants a divorce.”

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (78)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (79)
  • No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (80)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (81)

    Threads posts

    stated on October 21, 2024 in a Threads post:

    Donald Trump offered “food for everyone” at his McDonald’s press conference and then left without paying.

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (82)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (83)
  • No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (84)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (85)

    Bob Casey

    stated on October 10, 2024 in a TV ad:

    To pay for extending the Trump tax cuts, Dave McCormick has “made clear he’ll slash your Medicare and Social Security, and cut Medicaid for nursing home care.”

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (86)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (87)
  • No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (88)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (89)

    Threads posts

    stated on October 18, 2024 in a Threads post:

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (90)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (91)
  • No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (92)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (93)

    Threads posts

    stated on October 14, 2024 in a Threads post:

    “Breaking news: Megyn Kelly calls for boycott of Taylor Swift after singer attends charity event in Gaza.”

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (94)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (95)
  • No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (96)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (97)

    Threads posts

    stated on October 15, 2024 in a Threads post:

    Video shows “Karl Rove rallying support for Kamala Harris yesterday in Pennsylvania.”

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (98)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (99)
  • No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (100)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (101)

    Progress 2028

    stated on October 21, 2024 in a Facebook post:

    A pro-Kamala Harris website shows she supports a mandatory gun buyback program.

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (102)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (103)
  • No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (104)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (105)

    Instagram posts

    stated on October 13, 2024 in an Instagram post:

    “GA election official Gabriel Sterling says audits will take place after election day because it’s ‘nerve wracking’ to count ballots in front of poll watchers.”

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (106)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (107)
  • No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (108)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (109)

    Facebook posts

    stated on October 17, 2024 in a Facebook post:

    "Michael Jackson discovered alive at age 65” and will testify against Sean “Diddy” Combs.

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (110)

    No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (111)

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No, Michelle Obama is not a transgender woman (2025)
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