Political figures pay respects to Michelle Obama’s late mother

Political leaders are sending their thoughts to the Obama family and honoring former first lady Michelle Obama after her mother, Marian Robinson, died on Friday.

Robinson died at the age of 86, the family said in a statement. The family noted that Robinson, a lifelong Chicago resident, lived with them in the White House during former President Obama’s time in office, but the “trappings and glamor” were never “a great fit” for her.

Michelle Obama posted on the social media platform X honoring her mother.

“My mom Marian Robinson was my rock, always there for whatever I needed,” she said. “She was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share she passed away today.”

President Obama, Robinson’s son-in-law, posted online saying there was and “will be only one Marian Robinson.”

“In our sadness, we are lifted up by the extraordinary gift of her life,” he said. “And we will spend the rest of our trying to live up to her example.”

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden released a statement Saturday honoring Robinson, who they knew “as a devoted mother and grandmother.”

“She believed, like we do, that family is the beginning, middle and end. She moved into the White House to be there for her family when they needed her most, and in so doing, she served her country right alongside them,” the Bidens’ statement said. “Her life is a reminder that we are a great nation because we are a good people.”

The Bidens sent their “deepest love” to the Obama family.

Bernice King, the daughter of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., sent her “heartfelt condolences” to the family.

“My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time,” she said. “May you find peace and strength in your cherished memories.”

The Martin Luther King Jr. Center posted online sending the former first lady its thoughts and prayers.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of her mother, Marian Robinson. May they find strength and comfort in each other and in the cherished memories of Mrs. Robinson’s remarkable life,” the center said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also posted honoring Robinson.

“What an incredible woman. What an incredible life,” he said. “We’re mourning the passing of Marian Robinson. We’re praying for her, for @MichelleObama, for the Obamas and the Robinsons, and for their whole family.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) sent her love to the entire family as they mourn.

“She was an extraordinary woman that gave unconditional love to her family and was truly one of a kind,” Klobuchar wrote.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.) said her heart goes out to “Michelle Obama and her family as they mourn the loss.” Robinson’s “strength, kindness, and devotion are qualities we should all strive to embody. Her memory will continue to inspire us,” Whitmer said in a post.

Reverend Al Sharpton said Robinson was a “remarkable woman who embodied strength, grace, and resilience.”

“She was a true warrior, a source of inspiration for us all,” he wrote. “We are grateful for her presence in the Robinson/Obama family and the impact she made as a loving mother and grandmother. May her spirit continue to guide and uplift us.”