Michelle Obama Blames Partisanship for Unpopularity of School Lunch Program She Created

Former First Lady Michelle Obama attributed the backlash to her school lunch program to partisanship, expressing surprise at how divisive it became despite its intended goal of improving kids' health and well-being. She said she was trying to be strategic in introducing changes, but they were misinterpreted by some as overly restrictive or punitive. The controversy surrounding the program led to calls for repeal, which ultimately failed. Obama reflected on the experience, saying it taught her that even good intentions can be misinterpreted and politicized.