First lady Michelle Obama said her husband succeeded as president in bringing hope to Americans, which she said stands in contrast to the current mood of the country.

“Now we are feeling what not having hope feels like,” the first lady said, apparently referring to Americans unhappy with the election of Donald Trump. Obama spoke with Oprah Winfrey in what is expected to be her final interview as first lady and which will air in full Monday on CBS.

“Hope is necessary, it’s a necessary concept and Barack didn’t just talk about hope because he thought it was just a nice slogan to get votes. I mean, he and I and so many believe, ‘What else do you have if you don’t have hope?’” the first lady said.

Obama in the interview likened her husband to a parent who offers assurance and confidence about the future.

"I feel Barack has been that for the nation in ways that people will come to appreciate,” she said. “Having a grownup in the White House who can say to you in times of crisis and turmoil, 'Hey, it's going to be OK. Let's remember the good things that we have, let’s look at the future'."

The first lady was a vocal critic of Trump during the election and campaigned hard for his Democratic rival, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.



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