Obama shares thoughts on daughter Malia dropping last name professionally

(NEXSTAR) — Former President Barack Obama recently opened up about his eldest daughter's decision to drop her famous last name in a professional setting.

Malia Obama, 26, debuted her short film, "The Heart," earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival — but for her director's credit, she used her first and middle name only.

"She didn’t use Obama," the former president said during an interview on The Pivot Podcast on Tuesday. "On the credits, it said Malia Ann. I was like, 'You do know they’ll know who you are?'"

The former first daughter told her dad she wanted people to watch the film for the first time without any association with her family.

In a video introducing "The Heart" at Sundance, Malia described the project as "an odd little story, somewhat of a fable, about a man grieving the death of his mother after she leaves him an unusual request in her will."

"The film is about lost objects and lonely people, forgiveness and regret," she said.

Malia Ann Obama attends the "The Heart" Premiere at the Short Film Program 1 during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival at Prospector Square Theatre on January 18, 2024 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

During Tuesday's interview, Obama said that both Malia and her 23-year-old sister, Sasha, are determined to succeed on their own terms.

"The challenge for us is letting us give them any help at all. I mean they're very sensitive about this stuff. They're very stubborn about it," he told the podcast hosts, former NFL stars Channing Crowder, Fred Taylor and Ryan Clark.

Obama also reflected on the challenges of raising children in the public eye, sharing that he and former First Lady Michelle Obama worked to provide a grounded upbringing for their daughters.

He credited Michelle’s late mother, Marian Robinson, for her role in helping to raise them.

"They didn’t feel as if they got something they hadn’t earned. They’ve turned out amazing. I can’t brag about them enough," he said.

The Hill's Judy Kurtz contributed to this story.