The public has always had an interest in what the president's family is like. It's almost like when we elect a president, we also elect their family. And the public was especially interested in Sasha and Malia Obama when their father initially took office.
Malia is the older of the two, and she was only 10 when her father took office. She and Sasha attended the Sidwell Friends School when they moved to the White House, and after graduation, Malia attended Harvard. It's hard to believe that she's already 23, but the years passed quickly.
In fact, it was probably a little too quick for Barack and Michelle. Both paid tribute to their eldest in the sweetest way on her birthday on the 4th of July.
Barack's message was very sweet, with the picture being even sweeter. "Happy Fourth of July, and Happy Birthday, Malia!" he wrote. "It's been such a joy to watch you begin to make your own way in the world with poise, grace, and humor. I miss the days when you thought the fireworks were for you."
Michelle's message was also very kind. "Happy Fourth of July, everybody — and also, happy 23rd birthday to our dear Malia!" she wrote. "It's been a few years since we took this photo, but I know that she'll always be my sweet little girl whose big hugs and big heart always lift up my day. Malia, we love you, and are so excited to see what this year will bring for you!"
This birthday was likely much better than last year, when she had to stay home. However, Michelle admitted that as a mom, the extra time with both her girls last year was actually quite nice. "I mean, everybody’s home," she told Ellen DeGeneres, per Hollywood Life. "The girls are back because colleges are now online. So they're off in their respective rooms doing their online classes and I think Barack is — I don't know where he is. He was on the phone on a conference call."
That said, plenty of people decided to celebrate Malia Obama instead of America last year — and it makes sense as to why. It was further encouraged by one particular tweet that read, "So we all have come to an agreement that July 4th is now Malia Obama Day? Okay. Got it."
But 2019 was a different birthday. Malia turned 21 and was finally considered legal to drink. Barack made sure to note the occasion on Twitter as well as with quite a nice ode. He made sure to mention how every year, July 4th was always extra special to their family.
The ode wasn't quite as personal as it was this year, but it was still a good reminder that Malia's birthday will always be a holiday to remember. "This is always a great day in the Obama family: a chance to celebrate America — and Malia's birthday, too," the former president wrote. "Hope all of you are able to get some time with friends, family, and fireworks."
Malia isn't interested in a political life like her parents. She's actually interested in production and media. But that doesn't mean that she hasn't been an activist and advocate for causes she believes in. Back in June, Barack opened up about both Sasha's and Malia's dedication to standing up for what's right.
One thing the girls participate in are rallies. "I always worry about their physical safety; that's just the nature of fatherhood … But in terms of them having a good sense of what's right and wrong, and their part and role to play in making the country better, I don't worry about that," he told Anderson Cooper, per People.
But he said he's very proud of their generation for having questions and wanting to make change. "That's among not just my daughters but it's among their white friends," he said. "There's this sense of, 'Well, of course, it's not acceptable for a criminal justice system to be tainted by racism. Of course you can't discriminate against somebody because of their sexual orientation.'"
"What I find interesting is they're also starting to be very strategic about how to engage the system and change it," he added. "They're not just interested in making noise, they're interested in what works." It's good to know that Barack has a lot of faith in our future being kinder and less corrupt.
While Malia might have had years where she didn't like the fact that her special day fell on a holiday, it's great to know that she's always been able to have her day off from school and work. Hopefully, she was able to celebrate this year with loved ones nearby. And maybe a fireworks display or two.
