Michelle Obama breaks her silence on Donald Trump

Michelle Obama fed her husband's feud with Donald Trump on Friday as she gave a gloomy description of the hopeless climate his election win has created.

The First Lady used her final interview in the White House to tell Oprah Winfrey that a 'grown up' should be in charge of the country. 

Looking forward to president-elect Trump's looming inauguration, she said even though hope was lost, it was necessary to move on. 

'Now we're feeling what not having hope feels like. Hope is necessary,' she said in her first direct response to the November 9 election result.

In her interview with Oprah, the First Lady said the president needs to be someone 'who can say to you in times of crisis and turmoil: "hey, it's gonna be ok"'. 

She said she was assured her husband had achieved his goal of setting a hope-fueled agenda because of the contrasting mood brought by Trump's victory. 

'Your husband's administration, everything, the election, was all about hope. Do you think that this administration achieved that?' asked Winfrey.  

In a lengthy reply, Mrs Obama said calmly: 'Yes. I do. Because we feel the difference now.

'Now, we're feeling what not having hope feels like. Hope is necessary. It's a necessary concept. 

'What else do you have if you don't have hope?'

In a glowing assessment of her husband's tenure, Mrs Obama likened him to the calming parent of the panicked toddler nation. 

'Our children respond to crisis the way they see us respond. You know, it's like the toddler bumps his head on the table and they look up at you to figure out whether it hurts and if you're like (gasp) "oh my god" they're crying but if you're like "you know what, babe it's OK"...

'And I feel that way about the nation, I feel that Barack has been that for the nation in ways that people will come to appreciate. 

'Having a grown up in the White House who can say to you in times of crisis and turmoil : "hey, it's gonna be ok", let's remember the good things that we have, let's look to the future, let's look at what we're building" - all of this is important for our kids to  stay focused and to feel like their work isn't in vain and their lives aren't in vain. 

'What do we do if we don't have hope, Oprah?

The one-on-one took place ahead of the first family's departure from The White House to Hawaii where they will enjoy a two-week Christmas break. 

Mrs Obama had maintained a firm quietness on the election result since November 9. 

She claimed to have gone to bed early rather than stay up to watch the results and refused to be drawn on them afterwards. 

In campaign speeches for Hillary Clinton, the First Lady gave passionate condemnations of the businessman's policies and principles. 

She was widely lauded as Clinton's most valuable advocate and the appearances, all of which were applauded and well-attended, fueled speculation Mrs Obama has designs for her own presidency.  

The First Family is yet to formally address the speculation. 

At an event last week, Mrs Obama responded to one screaming request for her candidacy: 'Quiet back there!' 

- Daily Mail