'Sasha and Malia are terrific young women': President Barack Obama opens up about his daughters' eight years in the White House and credits Michelle for their 'grace'

  • President Obama gushed about Sasha, 15 and Malia, 18, in an interview Sunday
  • Said he and First Lady Michelle were worried the girls would 'develop an attitude' after moving into the White House aged 7 and 10
  • But both have grown into 'sweet, kind, funny, smart, respectful people' who 'treat everybody with respect', he said
  • Their only complaints were about Secret Service, but they handled it 'gracefully'
  • 'I give Michelle most of the credit for how well they've done,' Obama added

By Clemence Michallon For Dailymail.com

Published: 15:42 EST, 9 January 2017 | Updated: 04:37 EST, 10 January 2017

Barack Obama raved about his two daughters as he reflected on their White House upbringing in an interview on Sunday.

The president looked back at the past eight years and explained how they have shaped Sasha and Malia, who are now respectively 15 and 18. The girls were just 7 and 10 when they first moved into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Obama and his wife Michelle worried at first that they would 'develop an attitude' - but the commander-in-chief told ABC News' 'This Week' he had watched them grow instead into 'sweet, kind, funny, smart, respectful people' who 'treat everybody with respect'.

Malia and Sasha have earned praise from other parents, who complimented the Obamas on their good behavior after having them stay over. The president praised the First Lady, saying he gave her most of the credit for how well the girls have done.

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Barack Obama (pictured last week arriving back from a Hawaii vacation with his wife Michelle and their daughters Sasha and Malia) raved about his two daughters in an interview Sunday

The president said during the interview that Sasha and Malia have grown into 'sweet, kind, funny, smart, respectful people' who 'treat everybody with respect'

'You don't know how it would have turned out if they had grown up in Chicago instead in a more normal environment. All I can say is they have turned out to be terrific young women,' Obama said.

'We were concerned mostly about whether they would develop an attitude. And they  are sweet, kind, funny, smart, respectful people, and they treat everybody with respect.'

His observations, he said, were not just the result of his own bias as a parent, but derived from positive feedback he and the First Lady have received from fellow parents. 

'You know, we feel pretty good when we hear back from friends. They still have sleepovers and they go to other folks' houses and when the parents say, "Oh, you know, Malia, she's just so sweet," or "Sasha helped to pick up the dishes. What is it that you're doing?'' ' he said.

 Obama and his wife (pictured getting off Air Force One with their daughters last week) will remain in Washington, DC until Sasha finishes high school

Malia (left) and Sasha (right) have earned praise from other parents, who complimented the Obamas on their good behavior after having them staying over

The girls did complain about Secret Service once they became teenagers. Obama admitted that being followed by guards with guns and microphones at all times could become grating at that age. 

'But they've handled it with grace, and I give Michelle most of the credit for how well they've done,' he added.

The Obamas will remain in Washington, DC long enough for Sasha set to finish high school. Her older sister Malia is currently taking a gap year and will head to Harvard in the fall.

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