Sasha and Malia Obama: From Presidential Protection to Independent Young Women
(REX/SHUTTERSTOCK)
Sasha and Malia Obama, the daughters of former President Barack Obama, once lived under the constant watch of the Secret Service, enjoying round-the-clock security during their father’s two terms in office. Their every move was monitored, and armed guards were a constant presence in their lives. However, when a new administration took over in 2017, this extraordinary level of protection came to an end, as reported by ET.
At the Essence Festival, former First Lady Michelle Obama offered a glimpse into the unique childhood experiences of her daughters. “My kids had armed guards with them at all times,” she shared, adding, “Imagine trying to have your first kiss [around] a bunch of men [with guns] and earpieces.”
The Secret Service even accompanied the girls to sleepovers, conducting thorough sweeps of their friends’ homes beforehand. Michelle humorously remarked, “I mean, I’m surprised my kids have any friends, you know?” Yet, it wasn’t all difficult. On The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, she revealed that Malia and Sasha’s security agents even served as their driving instructors.
“Their agents taught them how to drive… Malia told me that her first driving lesson was on the Secret Service driving range.” However, when Donald Trump assumed the presidency in 2017, the constant presence of Secret Service agents in the lives of Sasha and Malia came to an end. According to Nicki Swift, this change was due to legal requirements.
The Former Presidents Protection Act, signed by President Obama in 2012, grants lifetime Secret Service protection to former presidents and their spouses but only extends protection to their children until they reach the age of 16. By 2017, Sasha and Malia were 16 and 19, respectively, and therefore no longer eligible for Secret Service protection.
Barack Obama humorously noted on The Late Late Show with James Corden that his daughters didn’t miss the security detail following their every move during their teenage years. “First of all, them as teenagers having Secret Service guys follow them when they were going out on dates, I think probably has shut down their interest in public service,” he joked.
“They still have PTSD from guys talking into their wrist microphones and glasses as they’re trying to go to a music concert.” Today, Sasha and Malia are embracing their newfound independence. Living together in Los Angeles, Malia is working as a writer on an Amazon Prime series, while Sasha is pursuing her degree at the University of Southern California.
They enjoy life freely, from grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s to attending parties, without the constant shadow of armed guards. The Obama sisters have transitioned from being two of the most protected children in the world to confident and independent young women carving out their own paths.
