No public social media?
No driving on public roads?
Constantly being followed everywhere by strange men in suits?
Keep watching to find out what else Presidents’ children have to put up with on a daily basis.
It is very uncommon nowadays to find a teenager that does not have public social media accounts,
especially on apps like TikTok and Instagram.
Unfortunately, presidents' children are expected to steer clear of public platforms and instead
use private accounts.
Since every move they make is watched by the public, it makes sense that they would want
to keep what they share online under wraps.
Malia and Sasha Obama are known for having private social media accounts.
Michelle Obama confirmed in an interview with Oprah Winfrey in February 2020 that she made
the decision to not follow either of her daughters online.
However, she noted that she still has people follow and keep track of the girls' accounts.
The former first lady said,
"It's better for them to be checked by somebody other than me.”
During Donald Trump's presidency, former first lady Melania Trump confirmed that Barron Trump
did not have any social media platforms and that he was more interested in sports instead.
One of the many simple joys in life is cruising in the car with your friends, blasting loud
music on the radio with the windows down.
Unfortunately for presidents' children, specifically Malia and Sasha Obama, this was strictly not
allowed.
One notable exception is when, according to Vogue, President Obama let Sasha’s prom
date drive her to the school dance, with the Secret Service following closely behind of
course.
Regarding her family's life during her husband's presidency, Michelle Obama noted in her book
Becoming,
"Normally, for security reasons, Malia and Sasha weren't allowed to ride in anyone else's
car."
Since the president is not allowed to drive on public roads either, Sasha and Malia were
never able to just hop in the car with their mom or dad for a cruise.
Although it may seem like the first family gets to live a lifestyle of never-ending luxury,
that is not necessarily the case.
Presidents and their families have been given extravagant gifts from foreign dignitaries
over the years, but unfortunately, they can only accept them if they are valued within
a certain price range.
As of January 2014, gifts given to the president, first lady, or their children cannot be valued
any more than $375.
According to The Atlantic, any gift that the first family receives is sent to the National
Archives, and is considered government property.
Basically, the better the gift and the more expensive it is, the less likely the family
can actually keep it.
However, if the president wants to keep a gift that is valued above the $375 limit,
they are expected to pay out of pocket at face value.
For example, NBC News reported that in February 2016, the Obama family was given an exclusive
parking pass allowing them to watch any sporting event they wanted at the United Center.
This also included the games of the former president's hometown team, the Chicago Blackhawks.
Unfortunately, this was one of those situations where they were unable to keep the gift.
A common misconception about living in the White House is that the first family is served
an endless amount of super high-quality food on a daily basis.
Considering that they have some of the most talented chefs catering to their every need,
it's hard to believe that they don't eat lavishly every once in a while.
Although it is possible to eat exquisite foods for every meal of the day, the president and
first lady are expected to pay the price of those fancy dining experiences.
Without their parents' permission, the president's children won't be dining on the finest steaks
or lobsters.
While appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2018, former first lady Michelle Obama confirmed
that, although rent and staff costs are free with a White House residence, the family has
to pay for their own food bills at the end of the day.
"You want some exotic fruit, 'Yes ma'am, we'll get that right away,' and then you get the
bill for a peach and it's like, that was a $500 peach!"
Just like the president of the United States, first ladies and presidents' kids must have
Secret Service accompany them whenever they leave the White House, so their safety and
security is ensured at all times.
According to CBS News, President Barack Obama signed a law that every former U.S. president
and their spouse can accept a lifetime of Secret Service protection, though they can
decline it if they wish.
This overrode the 1994 law limiting protection to future former presidents and families to
only 10 years once their term ended.
Presidents' children are eligible to receive this protection as well until they are 16
years old.
In January 2021, ABC News reported that former President Donald Trump decided to grant protection
for an additional six months after his term ended to his four adult children, their spouses,
and select White House staff members.
Although it isn't entirely strange for children to receive this extended protection, it's
typically given to children who are minors or young adults who lived in the White House.
It is not so much that the first children are completely forbidden from attending public
school, but in practice, they are expected to learn at a private school instead.
According to The Atlantic, it quickly became a norm for a U.S. president to send his children
to a private school.
During former president Donald Trump's term, his son Barron attended St. Andrew's Episcopal
School in Maryland, and during their father's terms, Sasha and Malia Obama were taught at
Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C.
Private schools are preferred to ensure presidents' kids' safety and security and to eliminate
public exposure in a larger setting.
Although first children have mainly attended private schools over the years, President
Jimmy Carter sent his 9-year-old daughter Amy Carter to a D.C. public school in 1977,
even though he had the resources to send his daughter elsewhere.
He outlined feelings on exclusive private schools by saying,
"... [They] allow the children of the political and economic elite to avoid public schools
that are considered dangerous or inferior."
One of the biggest restrictions that come with being in a presidential family is that
the windows in every room of the White House, and even windows of cars, must remain shut
at all times.
After all, the president's family must be protected 24/7.
In a conversation with Oprah Winfrey at the United State of Women Summit, former first
lady Michelle Obama recalled the time her daughter Sasha opened her bedroom window in
the White House and how people immediately called for Sasha to shut the window.
Michelle Obama joked that it never happened again.
This may seem like an easy rule to follow when you first think about it, but imagine
being a kid and not being able to open a window on a nice spring day for fresh air!
This was actually one of the things Michelle Obama was excited about the most when preparing
to move out of the White House after former president Barack Obama's term ended.
"I want to do little things like, you know, open a window."
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