In her book "Becoming," Michelle Obama recounts an incident during an event in Minnesota where she greeted someone with a lighthearted fist bump. This seemingly innocent gesture became a topic of controversy, as some media outlets interpreted it in a negative context. A commentator from Fox News even described it as a "terrorist fist jab," implying that the gesture was linked to something dangerous and threatening.

This reaction reflects the broader challenges Obama faced in the public eye, where her actions were often scrutinized and distorted. Such misinterpretations highlight the sensitivities surrounding her presence and the stereotypes that she and her husband encountered throughout their public lives, showcasing the underlying societal perceptions at play.