Former President Barack Obama is out here spilling dad tea over his eldest daughter, Malia, and her big career decision to drop “Obama” from her professional name. In a bold move that could only be described as Peak Gen Z energy, Malia premiered her film The Heart at the Sundance Film Festival in 2024, rolling credits with her middle name: Malia Ann. (Yes, drop that last name like it’s hot, Malia!)
In a fresh interview on The Pivot Podcast, Obama, 63, sounded both equal parts amused and resigned, saying he kinda knew this day would come. “The challenge for us is letting them take any advice, at all,” he laughed, as every parent of an adult child collectively nodded. “I mean, they’re very sensitive about this stuff. They’re stubborn.”
And if you’re wondering what Obama’s first reaction was, here’s a glimpse into a very relatable “dad moment.” He actually told Malia, “You do know they’ll know who you are, right?” And of course, Malia had an answer for him. “She’s like, ‘Yeah, but I want people to see it first without thinking, ‘Oh, it’s an Obama thing.’” Malia’s out here giving zero nepotism energy.
Obama and Michelle have also noticed that Malia and her younger sister, Sasha, have been drawing attention since turning 18 and embracing their own goals. Apparently, the paparazzi have caught on to this, and the girls are… less than thrilled. “Now, they’re like, ‘We’re not asking for all this attention,’” Obama said, rolling his eyes with the fondness of a man who still can’t believe his kids are now grown. “They’re grounded,” he added, probably wishing he could actually ground them just for nostalgia’s sake.
During his presidency, Obama went full lion-dad mode on the press, laying down a serious boundary: they could trail him all day but were to steer clear of the First Kids. “I basically told them, ‘Stalk me all you want, but leave my daughters alone because they didn’t sign up for this rodeo.’” And, shockingly, the press largely respected that boundary.
Finally, Obama couldn’t help but rave a bit, getting full “proud dad in the bleachers” vibes. Malia’s out here with a movie at major festivals, Sasha’s doing her thing, and Obama’s just beaming about it all. “They turned out amazing,” he said, his dad-heart swelling. “I literally cannot brag about them enough.”
Let’s hear it for Malia—stage name, stubbornness, and all.
