Moving out of any home is chaotic, but at the White House, moving the president's family is especially complicated, according to former first lady Michelle Obama.

The best-selling author spoke about those final moments, as well as the Democratic presidential campaigns, with Gayle King in a nearly hour-long interview at the Essence Festival in New Orleans on Saturday.

On the night before the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January 2017, the Obama family was packing up, and first daughters Sasha and Malia asked to have a final sleepover with their friends.

On the morning of Inauguration Day, Ms Obama explained, she was shooing her daughters' buddies out of the White House as she was getting ready. It was a farewell to the home that her children had known since they moved there in elementary school.

"The transition happens so quickly; it's like you don't even get to move your furniture out until the new president takes the oath of office," she said.

Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes Show all 10 1 /10 Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On the key to a successful marriage “In our house we don’t take ourselves too seriously, and laughter is the best form of unity, I think, in a marriage.” On Live with Regis and Kelly in February 2011. Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On not underestimating yourself "You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world's problems at once but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own." In a speech to schoolgirls at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in North London in April 2009. Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On inspiring young people “I want our young people to know that they matter, that they belong, so don’t be afraid. You hear me? Young people, don’t be afraid. Be focused, be determined, be hopeful, be empowered… Lead by example with hope, never fear, and know that I will be with you, rooting for you and working to support you for the rest of my life.” In her final White House address in January 2017. Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On double standards regarding parenting “When a father puts in long hours at work, he’s praised for being dedicated and ambitious. But when a mother stays late at the office, she’s sometimes accused of being selfish, neglecting her kids.” At the "Let Girls Learn Event" in Madrid, Spain in June 2016. Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On the importance of diversity in film and TV “For so many people, television and movies may be the only way they understand people who aren’t like them… I come across many little black girls who come up to me over the course of this 7½ years with tears in their eyes, and they say: ‘Thank you for being a role model for me. I don’t see educated black women on TV, and the fact that you’re first lady validates who I am.'” In an interview with Variety in August 2016. AFP/Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On maintaining hopeful following the election of Donald Trump “See, now we are feeling what not having hope feels like, you know. Hope is necessary. It is a necessary concept. What do you give your kids if you can’t give them hope?” In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in December 2016. Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On motherhood "My most important title is 'mom-in-chief'. My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the centre of my world." At the Democratic National Convention in September 2012. AFP/Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On championing women's education “Men in every country need to look into their hearts and souls and ask themselves whether they truly view and treat women as their equals. And then when you all encounter men in your lives who answer no to that question, then you need to take them to task. You need to tell them that any man who uses his strength to oppress women is a coward, and he is holding back the progress of his family and his country.” In a speech at the summit of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, July 2014. Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On dealing with bullies “When someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don’t stoop to their level. No, our motto is, when they go low, we go high.” At the Democratic convention, July 2016. Getty Images Michelle Obama's most empowering quotes On the meaning of success "Success isn’t about how your life looks to others. It’s about how it feels to you. We realised that being successful isn’t about being impressive, it’s about being inspired." In a speech at the Oregon State University commencement, June 2012. Getty Images

So there were a lot of tears - from the daughters, from staff members. Between moving, saying goodbye and preparing for the new administration's inauguration, Ms Obama said, "it was a lot emotionally."

Also, the Trump family was coming over for tea. Ms Obama said she didn't want to greet them while she appeared to have tears in her eyes "because people would think that I was crying for other reasons," Ms Obama said.

Then it came time for the inauguration itself. She recalled what she saw as a stark difference in crowds between the Obama inauguration and the Trump inauguration.

As one of the few people of colour in the audience, Ms Obama said, she felt the event looked just the "opposite" compared with when her husband took the oath of office.

"During Barack's inauguration, we made sure that the crowd looked like all of America," she said.

She told Ms King that when she left the White House that night, she was releasing eight years of exhaustion.

During the conversation, Ms Obama also talked about the 2020 presidential election.

Michelle Obama opened up about the mixture of emotions of leaving White House for the Trump family to move in (Getty)

She said she and her husband would not support any Democratic presidential candidate until after the primaries. Former Vice President Joe Biden has said that he asked Barack Obama not to endorse him and that whoever does win the Democratic nomination "should win it on their own merits."

Ms King asked whether Ms Obama had thoughts about a recent "dust-up" during the Democratic debates, when Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., challenged Mr Biden on his opposition to court-ordered busing in the 1970s.

"I have been doing this rodeo far too long," Ms Obama said. "No."

Asked about what qualities make a good president, Ms Obama said it should be someone who is "loyal and honest and decent."

"It's a hard job, y'all," Ms Obama said. "Let's just be clear. This isn't a joke. It's not a game. The leader of the free world, with a tweet, can start a war, can crush an economy, can change the future of our children."

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After publishing her popular memoir, "Becoming," in 2018, Michelle Obama has been on tour for the book. She said she is looking forward to being an empty-nester and not having to "worry about whether your kid was going to wind up on Page Six."

"My kids are gone; they are gone," she said while laughing.