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First lady Michelle Obama: 'Women are smarter than men'

Men are from Mars, women are from Venus, at least that's what first lady Michelle Obama seems to believe.
Michelle Obama
U.S. first lady Michelle Obama speaks at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Aug. 6, 2014 in Washington, DC.

Maybe men really are from Mars and women really are from Venus. That's what first lady Michelle Obama hinted at this week, anyway.

During a speech at the first-ever U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit on Wednesday, Obama ranked women superior to men in terms of intelligence.

"We can't waste the spotlight. It is temporary, and life is short. Change is needed. And women are smarter than men," she said at the event's "spousal program" in Washington, D.C. When the crowd laughed at Obama's remark, she said the men "can't complain" because they were outnumbered in a mostly-women audience.

Obama, along with former first lady Laura Bush, addressed spouses of African leaders who simultaneously visited the U.S. capital for the summit.

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President Barack Obama hosted the historic meeting. Heads from more than 50 African nations traveled to the White House on Tuesday for the three-day summit, which focused on trade, investment, and Africa's security. The president also made public new initiatives and partnerships that will create economic growth for both countries, including an additional $7 billion in financing to promote American exports in Africa.