Barack Who? Europe Really Hearts Michelle

Carla snubs G20

(NEWSER) - There was a noticeable no-show at the “first wives club” meeting in London—and at the G20 in general. France's Carla Bruni, perhaps the world’s most glamorous first lady, has skipped the summit altogether, the Daily Mail reports—a move largely seen as a snub of British PM Gordon Brown’s wife, Sarah, who has organized a full schedule for the visiting spouses. More»

Two new books will likely embarrass both first ladies

(NEWSER) - Just in time for election season, a story Michelle Obama can't possibly be happy to see: In a new book, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy claims Obama told her that being first lady is "hell. I can't stand it!" (The White House and the French Embassy in Washington deny that Obama said any such thing, the AP reports.) Carla and the Ambitious, which was reportedly written in collaboration with the French first lady , is "wildly indiscreet," the Daily Mail reports; the French Embassy says Bruni-Sarkozy "distances herself completely" from the book, out tomorrow. More»

First family visits parliament, then hits the pub

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama flew back to the US Sunday, but Michelle, Malia, and Sasha began a secret trip to London yesterday, reports the Daily Mail, visiting Big Ben and Parliament before tucking in for fish and chips at a traditional pub near the American embassy. Michelle also made an unofficial visit to Downing Street to see Sarah Brown—but not Gordon, who has been rather busy lately. More»

(NEWSER) - Michelle Obama presented her new amie Carla Bruni with a hard-rockin', all-American gift today: a Gibson guitar, People reports. The two first ladies, who first met yesterday, kissed hello and held hands briefly during a tour of a cathedral and museum in Strasbourg. Obama also agreed to help the model-turned-singer in her AIDS charity work. Next stop for Michelle and Barack? Date night in Prague, the Times of London reports. More»

(NEWSER) - Apparently, admiration for Michelle Obama is not universal. In a column that might just qualify as a snit, Sarah Vine of the London Times takes the first lady to task for an "uncharacteristic lapse of judgment." The awful offense? Michelle gave toy models of Marine One to the boys of British PM Gordon Brown. And this is bad, says Vine, because it smacks of narcissism and shows that Michelle "spent approximately three seconds" picking out the gifts. Let the outrage begin. More»