Tragic Details That Have Come Out About Sasha And Malia Obama

Being daughters of a U.S. president seems like it would come with some perks. From being able to meet some of the most influential people to traveling the world, there are clear benefits. However, as glamorous as it all may seem, there are downsides to being a public figure. Sasha and Malia Obama know a thing or two about that.

In 2008, when Barack Obama won the presidency, Sasha and Malia's lives changed forever. At just seven years old, Sasha became the youngest child to move into the White House since John F. Kennedy Jr. Malia wasn't much older at 10 years old when the Obama family moved into the famous residence. Michelle Obama commented on how huge the adjustment was for the two girls on the "Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast." "It's like, plucking these little girls out of our normal life on the South Side of Chicago ... and then, putting them in a historic mansion with butlers and maids, and florists, and gardeners, and Secret Service, and then trying to make sure that they understood boundaries, understood responsibility," she related.

Over the years, people have watched the Obama sisters transform into grown women, and Sasha and Malia have done a good job of putting smiles on their faces for photo ops and major events. But as happy as they may seem, the truth is, the two girls have had to deal with some tragic situations.

Sasha Obama had to deal with a scary situation as a small child. In 2013, Michelle Obama opened up about how she recognized something was wrong with Sasha not long after they had welcomed her into the family. She shared in an interview with Reverend Al Sharpton (via NBC News), "I will never forget. It was a day when, you know, one hour she was fine, she was normal, she was happy, doing everything I was used to her doing and the next hour she was crying inconsolably, and that just wasn't like her. And I did everything." After countless attempts of trying to figure out what was wrong, Michelle knew Sasha had to see a professional, and it was at a doctor's visit that they discovered she was dealing with a serious health issue.

In 2012, Barack Obama told his supporters on the campaign trail about how Sasha was diagnosed with meningitis at three months old. He shared (via Politico), "People ask me what was the hardest time in my life — they ask, well what about during the debt ceiling debate and this and that and the other thing. Sasha got meningitis when she was three months old," he continued, "I still remember going to the hospital together and they had to give her a spinal tap." The spinal tap helped diagnose her meningitis, which luckily, Sasha was able to overcome.

Malia Obama's life has been under a microscope from the moment Barack Obama became president. Everything she does becomes headline news, and when she took up smoking, she was ripped apart online.

In 2016, media outlets reported that Malia was spotted smoking marijuana at the Lollapalooza music festival. News of Malia smoking did not sit well with the public, many of whom shared their opinions online, and blamed her behavior on her dad, Barack. One person wrote, "Remember when Obama said Trump was a bad father? Malia Obama has been caught smoking weed."

The backlash she faced only got worse when a video captured her taking up a bad habit that she may have picked up from her dad. In 2017, a year after she was seen smoking weed, Malia was spotted smoking a cigarette. Once again, her habits fueled criticism from the public. One person wrote, "The excuse, 'she's just a kid, leave her alone.' The Obama daughters are public figures, that's why taxpayers are charged with her security. Her poor conduct represents her family and sets her up for harsh criticism. It speaks volumes that her parents overprotected her instead of instilling awareness, she simply lacks dignity." Seeing Malia smoke upset many, and this backlash is something she has had to deal with ever since entering the spotlight.

Sasha and Malia Obama never asked to be in the spotlight and, as many supportive outlets noted, the sisters should have been spared from criticism. Not only because of their age, but also because they weren't really public figures. And yet, scrutiny has followed the girls from the moment they moved into the White House. One particularly harsh moment came during the 2014 turkey pardon when both Sasha and Malia, then 13 and 16, accompanied their dad to the ceremony. When Malia was asked if she'd like to pet the turkey, she quipped, "Nah," sparking some good-natured teasing from USA Today which proclaimed, "Malia and Sasha Obama are so done with their dad's turkey pardon."

However, there was one person who saw nothing cute about their behavior, nor their typical teen outfits. Elizabeth Lauten, who was then working as the communications director for Republican Representative Stephen Fincher of Tennessee, took to Facebook on Thanksgiving Day to slam the girls, writing, "Try showing a little class."

In the since-deleted post saved by The Daily Mail, Lauten insisted that the Obama siblings were just too blasé about their role. "Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar," she advised. "And certainly don't make faces during televised, public events." The post quickly went viral and Lauten soon deleted the rant and issued an official apology, telling ABC News, "I can see more clearly just how hurtful my words were." Even so, by Monday, she resigned.

When the Obamas moved into the White House in 2009, there was one person Michelle Obama refused to leave behind in Chicago: her mother, Marian Robinson. As she told "CBS This Morning" in 2018, Sasha and Malia Obama were just 7 and 10 years old at the time and she thought it would be beneficial for the sisters to have their beloved grandma nearby. "I wanted them to come home to family," Michelle shared, noting Robinson's presence was particularly beneficial when she was forced to work late or be out on the road. For her part, Robinson was happy to oblige, telling CBS that she didn't need much persuading. "I ... was worried about their safety and I was worried about my grandkids," she explained.

For the full eight years of Barack's presidency, Robinson stayed in the White House with her family, making her bond with Sasha and Malia even stronger. "One of my biggest blessings is getting to see my granddaughters grow up before my eyes," Robinson wrote in a 2020 piece for Essence. "I go to all their school plays and sports games; I'll answer their questions, and like any grandparent, I try to make myself scarce when their friends are around."

That tight-knit relationship surely made her passing in May 2024 at age 86 all the more difficult. "[She] was my rock, always there for whatever I needed," Michelle wrote on Instagram. "She was the same steady backstop for our entire family."

Malia Obama found success early on in her film career, signing onto her first major gig as a staff writer for Donald Glover in 2021, the same year she graduated from Harvard University. Malia would ultimately work on seven episodes of the Amazon Prime Video series, "Swarm." According to show co-creator Janine Nabers, she made quite the impression. "She's a very professional person," Janine told Vanity Fair in 2023. "She's an incredible writer and artist."

Despite such high praise, Malia wasn't spared from "nepo baby" criticism, especially after her short film directorial debut, "The Heart," premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2024. Skeptics wondered if a young artist with such a short resume would have been invited to the festival if they had a different last name. Interestingly, it seems Malia had foreseen such criticism as she chose to drop "Obama" and use her middle name instead, listing herself as "Malia Ann" in the movie's credits. It may not have worked, though, as one snarky tweet accused her of "trying to sneak past Nepo baby discourse by not using her last name."

Turns out, her parents told her the same thing. "We were like, 'They're still going to know it's you, Malia,'" Michelle Obama recalled during a 2025 appearance on the "Sibling Revelry" podcast. However, they respected her decision because, as she noted, "It is very important for my kids to feel like they've earned what they are getting in the world."

Leaving the White House in 2017 didn't help Malia and Sasha Obama escape the limelight. As the sisters began carving their own paths and pursuing different passions, critics still kept a close eye on the teens. Sasha, in particular, has continued to attract plenty of unwanted attention, especially when it comes to her wardrobe.

Despite dressing like most other girls her age, Sasha has often been criticized for showing too much skin. In 2023, for example, the then-22-year-old arrived at Drake's afterparty in Los Angeles sporting a black corset top and low-cut pants, which showed off her belly button piercing and soon had haters voicing their opinions online. "Where did these young women get their clothes?" went one snarky tweet. "Did their parents not raise them right?" The following month, Sasha again made headlines when she was snapped hanging with friends while wearing a bikini top and yet another pair of low-rise pants.

One person who isn't fussed by Sasha's fashion is Michelle Obama. Speaking with People in 2025, the mom of two revealed she's always given her girls free reign to find their personal style. "Barack would be like, 'Those shorts seem really short,'" she recalled. "And I was like, 'Don't say anything. Let them cook. Let them learn.'" Indeed, Sasha has been unfazed by the negativity and, as of 2025, she was still rocking her low-rise jeans and cropped tops, as seen when she posed with musician Destin Conrad on Instagram (pictured above).

Dating is never simple, but add to that the scrutiny that comes with being a first daughter, and it gets even more challenging. Then there are the safety concerns, which really threw a wrench in Malia and Sasha Obama's teenage love life, according to their dad. As Barack Obama shared on a 2021 episode of "The Late Late Show with James Corden," his girls always had to have a Secret Service escort, even on dates. "They still have PTSD from guys talking into their wrist microphones and glasses as they're trying to go to a music concert," he quipped.

Even so, both Barack and his wife have encouraged their girls to enjoy dating, in spite of such previous barriers and ongoing media attention. "We try to sort of educate the girls by sharing our experiences," Michelle Obama revealed on a 2025 episode of her podcast, "IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson." As for her go-to advice, she encourages Malia and Sasha to be open to meeting as many new people as possible. "Date a lot, and, you know, if you run into a bad date or have a bad experience, move on quickly," she advised.

It seems Malia has certainly listened, as she's been linked to everyone from music producer Dawit Eklund to rapper Aminé and journalist Achilleas Ambatzidis. On the other hand, Sasha appears to have a steady beau, as she's reportedly been dating Clifton Powell Jr. (the son of actor Clifton Powell) since 2022.

Malia Obama appears serious about pursuing a career in film. As of 2022, she's been living full-time in Los Angeles (although her IMDb page has been quiet since the debut of her 2024 short film, "The Heart," which was produced by Donald Glover's company, Gilga). Even so, insiders told Radar Online in October 2025 that Malia was still very much involved in the industry, although some accused her of not having her priorities straight.

According to sources who spoke with the outlet, Malia is risking her budding career as a writer and producer by spending too much time shopping and visiting ritzy restaurants and spas. "It's the lifestyle she's become enamored with, not the grind and the inevitable rejection that comes with a serious writing career," one source claimed. The insider went on to allege that Malia is losing momentum by not devoting all of her time and energy to her craft. "The problem is how much of her life she still devotes to partying and socializing," they shared. "Now is the time she should be buckling down and showing people what she's really capable of."

Indeed, it's true that Malia hasn't had any new credits since 2024 and the Hollywood events she's been spotted attending (like R&B singer Destin Conrad's album release party in April 2025) don't appear to be work related.