President Obama on Daughter Leaving for College: 'I'm Going to Miss Her Terribly'
The White House has announced that Malia plans to attend Harvard University,
— -- In his first public comments about his daughter Malia since it was announced Sunday that the high school senior plans to attend Harvard University, President Obama said today he "couldn't be prouder of her" but admitted that "it's tough" to see her fly the coop.
"I'm going to miss her terribly," Obama told CBS Ohio affiliate WKRC in an interview. "But she is well-prepared, she is going to do great things -- and as Michelle reminds us, our job is to make sure they don't need us anymore."
The president reflected on the privilege of living in the same place where he works in the White House, allowing him to spend time with his family on a nightly basis.
"This is my first one leaving and my daughters are wonderful, and one of the great pleasures of being in the White House is because I live above the store, I've been able to spend every night that I'm in town with them," he said.
The White House announced Sunday that Malia will attend Harvard beginning in the fall of 2017. The high school senior is opting to take a "gap year" before beginning her college education. The White House has not said what Malia will be doing in the year before beginning her college career.
The president's younger daughter Sasha is currently a freshman in high school. The White House has indicated that the first family may stay in the Washington-area for a couple of years after leaving the White House, while Sasha finishes her high school education at the private Washington school she currently attends.