Michelle Obama Shares Choking Incident on Podcast

Michelle Obama recently shared a surprising story about a time she helped a friend who was choking during dinner. This revelation came during a podcast episode featuring her brother, Craig Robinson, and comedian Kevin Hart, released on Wednesday.

While discussing health issues, Obama recounted how she taught a friend the Heimlich maneuver. “I taught one of my girlfriends the Heimlich maneuver over dinner,” she stated, catching Robinson off guard.

She explained that at the dinner, which included her daughter Malia and some of her friends, the situation took a turn. Obama noted, “We’re the same age, and you’re starting to have… swallowing problems.” She had knowledge of her friend’s prior difficulties with her esophagus, which led her to be alert during the meal.

Then, out of nowhere, the friend began to cough. “I think she coughed something up and got stuck in her throat,” Obama recalled, describing the moment. When she asked if her friend was okay, the woman merely shook her head, indicating distress.

In a quick response, Obama positioned herself behind her friend and performed the Heimlich maneuver, despite having never done it before. “It came off. It came right out,” she said, relieved that it worked. Once everything settled down, Obama turned to her daughter and the other children who had watched the ordeal unfold from a distance. “I looked at the kids and thought, ‘What were they all doing?’” she chuckled. The kids humorously acknowledged their lack of action, realizing it was indeed a mother’s moment.

Kevin Hart commented on the significance of the story, noting it was more than just a casual anecdote. “That’s a story you have to tell at dinner. It’s a real story,” he remarked. To which President Obama added with a lighthearted tone, “Yeah, I saved a life.”