Michelle Obama Will Not Attend Trump’s Inauguration
Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, after also missing former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral last week.
A spokesperson for the Obamas confirmed the absence of Michelle Obama, stating that former President Barack Obama will attend the swearing-in ceremony, but his wife will not. The spokesperson did not provide an official reason for her decision to skip the event.
“Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration,” the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama told the Associated Press, according to the Daily Mail.
Michelle Obama had also missed Carter’s funeral at the Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 9, citing a “scheduling conflict” while spending time on an extended holiday break in Hawaii, where her husband was born.
Since the death of her mother, Marian Robinson, in May 2024, Michelle Obama has been less publicly engaged. In August, when speaking at the Democratic National Convention, she revealed that she almost didn’t take the stage due to her grief.
“I still feel her loss so profoundly – I wasn’t even sure I’d be steady enough to stand before you tonight,” she said to the crowd at Chicago’s United Center.
Despite her grief, Michelle Obama continued to participate in the campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of Election Day, headlining several Democratic events, according to the outlet.
The decision to skip the inauguration is seen as unusual, as former first ladies and presidents generally attend the inauguration of the president-elect, regardless of political party, unless health issues prevent them from doing so. However, the tradition of former presidents and first ladies attending such events was broken four years ago when Trump refused to attend President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021.
First lady Melania Trump also skipped the event.
Barack Obama is set to attend Trump’s inauguration, making him the latest in a long line of former presidents to participate in the swearing-in ceremony, including George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Biden.
Despite the strong tradition of former presidents attending their successor’s inauguration, Michelle Obama’s absence from both the funeral and the upcoming inauguration sparked backlash on social media. Many criticized her for not attending Carter’s funeral and now refusing to attend Trump’s inauguration.
“Where is she? Didn’t want to come to Jimmy Carter’s funeral either. Her husband can be the bigger man and chum it up with our current President-elect, but she can’t?” one X user wrote.
Another user added, “Absence speaks louder than words. Some can’t handle witnessing true leadership take the stage. January 20th belongs to Trump.”
A third user commented, “She didn’t attend President Carter’s funeral, and now she’s skipping the inauguration—no surprise, but very petty for a woman who has benefited greatly from America.”
Others responded differently, some expressing indifference.
“Who cares. To me that is winning,” one user commented.
“The winning never ends for MAGA,” wrote another.
Both Michelle and Barack Obama attended Trump’s first inauguration in January 2017, making Michelle Obama’s current absence all the more noticeable.
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