Former First Lady Michelle Obama is offering a fresh perspective on one of her most memorable and widely quoted phrases, “When they go low, we go high,” nearly a decade after it became a rallying cry during the 2016 presidential election.
Speaking on the All The Smoke podcast, Obama explained that the concept of “going high” has always been about more than staying calm in the face of attacks—it’s about being intentional in response.
“Sometimes it was good at the moment. Let’s meet them where they’re at now,” she said, adding, “Going high is about being strategic. That doesn’t mean you don’t feel it emotionally. That doesn’t mean you don’t get angry, but our response needs to have a goal beyond just being mad. I don’t want to waste my mad. Let’s be thoughtful about what we say, why we say it, what’s the plan, where we’re headed. That’s what going high is.”
Obama first delivered the phrase in her widely celebrated speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
The address, hailed as one of the most powerful moments of the election season, drew cheers, brought some delegates to tears, and earned praise from political figures and citizens worldwide. Her words served as both a rebuke of then-Republican nominee Donald Trump’s rhetoric and an encouragement to maintain dignity and resilience in the political arena.
Now, with years of hindsight, Obama’s update reframes “going high” not as passive restraint but as a measured, strategic response rooted in purpose.
The evolution of the message speaks to a broader lesson in politics, activism, and personal life: emotional reactions may be valid, but lasting change comes from channeling that energy into deliberate action.
