Michelle Obama revisited a memorable moment from her first term as First Lady during a recent podcast appearance, playfully teasing Ellen DeGeneres for a push-up competition that aired on national television more than a decade ago. Speaking on Amy Poehler's "Good Hang" podcast, Obama reflected on aging, fitness, and her viral showdown with the daytime talk show host.
"Ellen ... my first term, she challenged me to a push-up competition," Obama said. "I'm the First Lady, you know." She added that DeGeneres was prompted to issue the challenge after hearing about her workout routine.
The two were discussing how age has impacted their physical routines when Poehler asked if Obama could still do push-ups. "Now I do them on my knees," Obama said. "I don't need to do regular push-ups. I have nothing to prove. I can, but it's hard. My arm length doesn't go all the way down."
Obama joked that her long arms made it difficult to complete a full push-up motion by traditional standards. "You know who pointed that out was Ellen... She still says I didn't go down all the way. Anatomically, I don't think I can. My arms are very long and she's a much smaller person than me."
The exchange referred to a 2012 episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, when DeGeneres suddenly asked Obama, "I was just wondering if you could do more push-ups than I could do." Obama responded with a light jab, "You know, it depends on how your back is. I know you've got these back issues."
The First Lady ultimately bested the host, completing 25 push-ups to win the lighthearted competition. The moment went viral, cementing itself as one of the show's more iconic stunts.
The Ellen DeGeneres Show ended in 2022 after nearly two decades on the air. Its final years were clouded by controversy following an internal investigation into allegations of a toxic workplace culture, including claims of racism and misconduct. Though DeGeneres denied that the scandal directly influenced the decision to wrap the show, she later acknowledged the emotional toll.
"I thought, if I could make people happy, they'll like me. And if they like me, I'll feel good about myself ... And all I can say about that is, thank god for the money!" DeGeneres said in a later interview.
Since the show's end, DeGeneres has remained mostly out of the public eye, reportedly relocating to the U.K. and stepping back from public appearances.
