White Conservative Christians Are Apparently Now Praying To Ask God To 'Expose' Michelle Obama As Trans Thanks To Alex Jones
The Obamas are no strangers to being the subject of many a conspiracy theory, but the latest is somehow even more preposterous than its predecessors: that former First Lady Michelle Obama is a trans woman.
This whole ridiculous notion originated on an Evangelical radio show called Up Front in The Prophetic, according to LGBTQ Nation.
The show's host, Francine Fosdick, recently held a prayer call during the show. About halfway through, she turned the call over to an intercessor, a person designated to pray on another's behalf, identified as Jamie.
Jamie proceeded to pray to God for President Barack Obama to be "exposed" as having been "involved in child trafficking" and for it to be revealed that his wife is transgender, among other less than neighborly requests.
"I am asking you, Father, that the general public would see all of the stealing and all of the dirty things that Obama has been involved in."
"How did he get this $15 million home in Martha's Vineyard? Father Lord, I'm thanking you that every bit of money laundering, that he is involved in child trafficking, all of that would be exposed."
"Father, I thank you for exposing all of the corrupt book deals, not only Obama's, but Joe Biden's, Michelle's."
"And speaking of Michelle, today ABC just had an article saying that she's been named the most admired woman in the world for the second year in a row."
"Father, I am asking you that whatever plan they have to have Michelle or Hillary [Clinton] run for president, we call that canceled in Jesus' name."
"And I am asking you Father that the true identity of Michelle—Michael—would be exposed. Father, I am asking you that that whole family, that those children—they are not their children, they're the children of Obama's best friend—Father, we ask you that that whole lie would be exposed for the everyday person to see it, in Jesus' name."
Conspiracy theorist and Infowars host Alex Jones has been spreading this idea that Obama is trans for a while—with predictably ridiculous results.
Jones published a 12 minute video clip of himself criticizing photos and videos of Michelle and Barack. In the clip, Jones cited her "very wide shoulders" and "very masculine" face as supposed evidence.
He also played clips of Barack saying the name Michael and claimed that this was proof that Michelle was once called Michael, despite the fact that there is no way to know from the clips who he was actually referring to.
The video also featured a racist and otherwise problematic cartoon at the beginning of the clip which compares caricatures of Michelle Obama and Melania Trump.
Jones claimed:
"This is a funny cartoon. It's not racist to say she looks like a man."
Black women have long been the targets of accusations that they are too masculine, those racist claims are not a new concept.
Jones went on to make inappropriate comments about Michelle's genitalia and claimed that he'd "had doctors on about this."
In true Infowars fashion, Jones couldn't leave it at that, though.
No, he had to up the ante.
"I'm sorry, it's true. It's a giant viral video phenomenon for like eight years that she's a man. All I know is, Obama was raised by a tr***y in Indonesia. They're into all sorts of stuff."
"I think it's all an arranged marriage, it's all fake. It's all just a big sick joke because [Barack] is obsessed with transgender [sic]. It's like some weird cult or something."
This is far from the first time Jones and Infowars have targeted the Obamas with their conspiracies. Jones is also an advocate for the "Birther" conspiracy theory, which posits that President Obama was not born in the United States, despite the fact that his birth certificate clearly shows he was born in Hawaii.
All of this vitriol clearly misses the fact that being trans isn't a bad thing. It shouldn't be seen as an scandal—and to be clear, Jones and the like were almost certainly trying to insult Michelle—to be trans.
Any people were having none of it.
Michelle Obama happens to be one of the most beautiful women in the world. That's not because she's cis - trans wom… https://t.co/RkEZMrxf0b— Sheryl Ring 🌹🌈⚾️ ✡️💄⚖️ (@Sheryl Ring 🌹🌈⚾️ ✡️💄⚖️) 1578759132.0
The evangelicals aren't praying for peace in the middle east or for the people of Puerto Rico. No, because that wou… https://t.co/3F3kfVzBXb— Eleanor McDonough (@Eleanor McDonough) 1578746678.0
If god exists, he's gonna have a weird one once he checks his e-mails. https://t.co/dRLVFFtvMB— Gregor Schwayer (@Gregor Schwayer) 1578780387.0
So far these right wing Christians think - Michelle Obama - Megan Fox - Kim Kardashian - Jessica Simpson - Sandra… https://t.co/rLk1doDHe1— Kellylicious (@Kellylicious) 1578697569.0
So no, Michelle Obama is not a trans woman, but what would be the problem if she were?
The book Why I Still Believe: A Former Atheist's Reckoning with the Bad Reputation Christians Give a Good God is available here.
Michelle Obama Opens Up About That Time She Broke Royal Protocol When Meeting Queen Elizabeth
Michelle Obama stopped in London as part of a book tour promoting her memoir, Becoming, released last November.
While there, she shared an amusing anecdote about the time she accidentally broke protocol when meeting Queen Elizabeth in April 2009 for the first time.
By nature, Michelle is warm, affectionate and tactile when it comes to human interaction. So she figured that a simple handshake simply wouldn't do.
So what she did when meeting the Queen at Buckingham Palace had everyone gasping.
Obama placed her arm around the monarch.
"Yikes! Sorry guys,'" she joked, recalling the moment while speaking at London's O2 arena on Sunday.
Of course, the 55-year-old was unaware of proper royal conduct.
Michelle Obama is still answering for the time she breached royal protocol by hugging Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham… https://t.co/YGCuFsjLeq— HuffPost BlackVoices (@HuffPost BlackVoices) 1555362015.0
In Obama's defense, the Daily Mail did mention that she recalled the queen calling the monarch-branded protocol "rubbish" at a later visit at Windsor Castle.
@CNN Over the last few years her majesty has ignored royal protocol 1 by inviting Meagan to Christmas last year thi… https://t.co/c5GQjwgIZa— joseph beagley 🏳️🌈🇺🇸 (@joseph beagley 🏳️🌈🇺🇸) 1543996969.0
When asked if she would have done things differently, Obama said she has no regrets.
"What is true among world leaders is that there are people who handle protocol, and usually the people they're representing don't want all that protocol."
"So you wonder well who are you doing this for because they don't want it, we don't want it."
"But it's just the way things are. So I don't know that I could have done anything differently because it was a natural human reaction."
The queen, however, did not seem bothered by the friendly American gesture.
@blackvoices Queen Elizabeth didn't appear to care, as a matter of fact, she was smiling more with the Obamas than… https://t.co/AoHA4SN2SP— Sydney Chandler (@Sydney Chandler) 1555362788.0
@HuffPost It really wasn't a big deal. By all accounts Queen Elizabeth is very fond of the Obamas.— Gez Wenham (@Gez Wenham) 1555358235.0
In fact, Obama recalled commiserating with Queen Elizabeth about having sore feet during the G-20 reception.
"Forget that she sometimes wore a diamond crown and that I'd flown to London on the presidential jet: we were just two tired ladies oppressed by our shoes."
Obama explained how this led to the impromptu hug.
"I then did what's instinctive to me anytime I feel connected to a new person, which is to express my feelings outwardly. I laid a hand affectionately across her shoulder."
She had some explaining to do.
Michelle Obama charms Britons with praise for Queen Elizabeth https://t.co/8JcfYwLuXI https://t.co/Xe0ngQOzvb— Reuters Top News (@Reuters Top News) 1555309109.0
Rest assured the Queen remained unharmed.
Obama added:
"I daresay that the Queen was okay with it, too, because when I touched her, she only pulled closer, resting a gloved hand lightly on the small of my back."
It turns out she had not violated any protocol. An anonymous spokesperson for Buckingham Palace commented that Her Majesty was totally fine over the love pat and confirmed there are no rules that prohibit touching the Queen.
"It was a mutual and spontaneous display of affection. We don't issue instructions on not touching the queen."
When host Stephen Colbert asked Obama what word of advice she would impart to the British on how to stay calm during a time of turmoil, likely referencing the divide over Brexit, she said that London is unique and that they should treasure their diversity.
"This trepidation, the anxiety, it's everywhere, it's all over the world."
"I was looking out over the city, London, a beautiful city, and the thing I love about it is it is truly representative of true international diversity, in ways that you don't see in cities, most cities particularly, even in the United States, and that is a gift."
Obama held a very captive audience at the O2 arena.
What an amazing night! Feel very lucky to have got tickets to see this amazing woman speak. The journey from Scotla… https://t.co/jPkSkm8jaY— Nicola Strachan (@Nicola Strachan) 1555279459.0
only Michelle Obama has the ability to make the O2 Arena so silent you could hear a pin drop— eliana✨ (@eliana✨) 1555290649.0
i walked of the O2 ten times wiser than when i walked in. thanks to the wiser words of michelleobama i am now prio… https://t.co/2j9WvhThjM— rianah chungh (@rianah chungh) 1555353870.0
Just off @MichelleObama ‘s talk in London O2 arena & amazing with her #inspiring #leadership role and ability to th… https://t.co/aJ6oJzOky8— Livia Di Batista (@Livia Di Batista) 1555279273.0
Obama's book tour has so far covered North America and Scandinavia and will continue over to Paris and then to Amsterdam.
Barack Obama Just Posted The Cutest Throwback Photo To Celebrate Michelle's Birthday ❤️
Former First Lady Michelle Obama turned 55 today. The former President himself, Barack Obama, posted an adorable little throwback to celebrate his wife's birthday.
The pair were still serving couple goals decades ago.
I knew it way back then and I’m absolutely convinced of it today — you’re one of a kind, @MichelleObama. Happy Birt… https://t.co/VLwQtcydJm— Barack Obama (@Barack Obama) 1547737330
The caption reads...
"I knew it way back then and I'm absolutely convinced of it today — you're one of a kind, @MichelleObama. Happy Birthday!"
However, it takes hard work to serve up this kind of relationship. Michelle has spoken in the past about how the two have attended couples therapy to help each other find their happiness as a couple and improve their communication skills.
She explained to Oprah...
"Well, you go because you think the counselor is going to help you make your case against the other person. 'Would you tell him about himself?!' And lo and behold, counseling wasn't that at all. It was about me exploring my sense of happiness. What clicked in me was that I need support and I need some from him. But I needed to figure out how to build my life in a way that works for me."
People felt a lot of nostalgia for the pair.
@BarackObama @MichelleObama I miss having a president who truly cared about his wife. Happy Birthday Michelle!— Tony Posnanski (@Tony Posnanski) 1547737395
@tonyposnanski @BarackObama @MichelleObama I miss having a president that truly cared. Period.— MissTee (@MissTee) 1547744836
@MsMissTee1 @tonyposnanski @BarackObama @MichelleObama I miss having a president.— Dave Jets (@Dave Jets) 1547748185
@Barbara93231774 @abhisheknepak09 @BarackObama @MichelleObama https://t.co/nAZbk4vn67— Marie Lena (@Marie Lena) 1547753736
Many others wished Michelle Obama a happy birthday.
Wishing #MichelleObama a very happy birthday! You are the epitome of poise, class and grace and your legacy continu… https://t.co/v2HKIYDj8B— Michael B. Hancock (@Michael B. Hancock) 1547747379
Happy Birthday @MichelleObama. You mean so much, to so many. https://t.co/edbqiEiKu9— anastasia baranova (@anastasia baranova) 1547747093
Happy Birthday @MichelleObama! Thank you for your incredible service to our country and your unyielding commitment… https://t.co/AgAnevUHSH— Ann McLane Kuster (@Ann McLane Kuster) 1547747479
@BarackObama @MichelleObama Happy birthday, @MichelleObama. America celebrates you. 🇺🇸❤️— Nancy Sinatra (@Nancy Sinatra) 1547746770
Happy Birthday, @MichelleObama! You are beautiful, intelligent and oh so kind! Hope your day is as great as you are! https://t.co/mOr0klFpYo— The Tylt (@The Tylt) 1547747764
Happy birthday Michelle!