Michelle Obama, the former first lady, will not attend the upcoming presidential inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, marking her second absence from a major political gathering this month. While her husband, former President Barack Obama, will join other former leaders Bill Clinton and George W.
Bush at the ceremony, Michelle Obama’s planned absence has been confirmed by her office. No explanation has been given for her decision to skip the event at the US Capitol.
Her absence follows another significant moment earlier in January when she was not present at former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral. Barack Obama attended the funeral, where he was seen engaging in what appeared to be a cordial conversation with Donald Trump, despite the tense history between the two. Michelle Obama, however, was reported to be in Hawaii at the time.
A statement from the Obamas’ office confirmed that former President Barack Obama would attend the inauguration, while Michelle Obama would not. This decision diverges from traditional protocol, where former presidents and their spouses typically attend inaugurations, regardless of political affiliations.
At Trump’s 2017 inauguration, all living former presidents and first ladies, including Hillary Clinton, were present.
It has been noted that Michelle Obama has expressed her deep emotional reactions to Trump’s first inauguration. In a 2023 podcast, she described the event as one that triggered “uncontrollable sobbing,” critiquing the lack of diversity she perceived in the ceremony and the failure to reflect the broader American experience.
Despite these sentiments, Michelle Obama had previously participated in the transition ceremonies in 2017, hosting Melania Trump for tea at the White House before the inauguration, signaling a commitment to tradition despite personal differences
