Michelle Obama Jokes White House is Like a Prison — But a Nice One

Ever wonder what it’s like to live in the White House? According to First Lady Michelle Obama, it’s sort of like a prison – albeit a pretty nice one.

The FLOTUS was with former first lady Laura Bush speaking at a summit of the wives of African leaders in Tanzania’s largest city, Dar es Salaam, on Tuesday when she joked about life inside the White House, The Washington Post reports.

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“There are prison-like elements, but it’s a really nice prison,” she said.

“But with a chef,” Mrs. Bush interjected.

“You can’t complain,” Mrs. Obama replied with a laugh.

Although the comments clearly came in jest, critics took to social networking sites and had a field day.

“I’d suggest she leave if she doesn’t like it,” tweeted @EvlBert.

“How is the food in prison?” asked @JRLLMESQ on Twitter.

“In the hell that is #MichellesPrison, the rec-yard music is live Paul McCartney, and good behavior gets you a paid vacation to Spain,” tweeted @hale­­_razor.

“Yeah… I know I’ll never forget that one time when Mrs. Obama narrowly dodged a rusty shank in the White House vegetable garden,” quipped Meredith Jessup on TheBlaze.com.

For the record, Mrs. Obama isn’t the first first lady to discuss how confining being the president’s wife could be.

“I think I am more like a state prisoner than anything else, there is certain bounds set for me which I must not depart from,” Martha Washington wrote to a niece, adding that she would “much rather be at home.”

Then again, Mrs. Washington didn’t live in the White House; construction did not begin until 1792, and Philadelphia was the nation’s provisional capital during virtually Washington’s entire presidency. He lived at a rented mansion on what is now Market Street in the City of Brotherly Love.

John Adams was the first president to live in the White House.

“I pray Heaven to bestow the best of Blessings on this House and all that shall hereafter inhabit it,” he wrote in a letter to his wife. “May none but honest and wise Men ever rule under this roof.”

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