Malia Obama Hits The Road: First Daughter Turning 16, Will Start Driving This Summer

Malia Obama has some big plans for the summer, but will need a little help from the Secret Service to put them into action.

President Barack Obama’s oldest daughter will be turning 16 on July 4, and First Lady Michelle Obama said the teen plans to get her learner’s permit and start driving.

She won’t be the first presidential child to learn to drive while in the White House. Chelsea Clinton also got her driver’s licence while living on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, with her dad Bill Clinton serving as the driving instructor.

It’s likely going to be different this time around. Michelle said she and Barack aren’t allowed to get behind the wheel with their teen daughter, so it will be up to someone else to do it under the supervision of Secret Service agents.

“I think our [Secret Service] agents don’t want us driving with teenagers… Especially the president’s detail,” the First Lady told USA Today. “I don’t think they want him in the state when she’s learning how to drive. We will fortunately be able to hand that responsibility over to someone else.”

Malia Obama and her sister Sasha have already gotten into some tense situations on the road.

Earlier this month a man was arrested for following the presidential motorcade to a restricted area near the White House, forcing Secret Service to lock down the home for more than an hour. The man was driving behind the motorcade that included Sasha and Malia, who go to school near where the incident took place.

Though the incident may have been tense, Michelle and Barack say they try to keep things light with their kids. Michelle said when she notices one of the girls getting bored at a public event, she leans over and whispers: “If you don’t smile, I’m going to start dancin’,” then does a little dance in her chair.

It always works, Michelle said.

But there are still some lines the Michelle Obama won’t cross. In an interview with Billy Bush of Access Hollywood, the First Lady talked about Malia Obama growing up in the White House but declined to get into details of her possible love life. Michelle said she would get “pushed off of the Truman Balcony” if she talked about that on television.