Michelle Obama sparks backlash by implying Donald Trump is like a 'divorced dad'

Michelle Obama recently made comments that appeared to criticize President Donald Trump by likening him to a divorced father — a notion that has sparked backlash from some political commentators.

The Independent has published a video of remarks, which reportedly occurred at a Sunday event in London during an interview with Stephen Colbert to promote her book "Becoming."

In the remarks, Obama said America was in the midst of extensive changes, similar to those experienced by a teenager. She goes on to suggest that America's experience right now is much like a teen in a family coping with a divorce.

"And we come from a broken family. We're a teenager, we're a little unsettled and having good parents is tough," she said. "Sometimes you spend weekends with divorced dad, that feels like it's fun, but then you get sick — that's what America is going through. We're kind of living with divorced dad right now."

The remark was met with laughter by Colbert, who went on to impersonate Trump giving children keys to a car and pointing them in the direction of the "liquor cabinet."

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Obama's words have drawn criticism from some pundits, including CNN's Dana Bash, the network's chief political correspondent, who called the comment "remarkably un-woke."

Fox News host Sean Hannity also decried the implied negative stereotype of divorced fathers.

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During the same segment, Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera called the comment a "rare misstep" after explaining the backlash from the perspective of a divorced father: “She's equating, she's reduced (divorced fathers) to a sexist stereotype with a bad parent who gives candy and lets the kids watch too much TV because we have a guilty conscience about the breakup of the marriage.”

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A USA TODAY request for comment from Michelle Obama's press office was not immediately returned.

Obama's memoir, "Becoming," has spent 20 weeks on USA TODAY's best-seller list since its November debut. It was ranked the No. 1 best-selling book of 2018 in USA TODAY's year-end list.