Former First Lady Michelle Obama has decided not to attend President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration, which is set for the following Monday, after also missing former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral last week.
In a statement to the Associated Press, the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama confirmed, “Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former First Lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration.”
No specific reason was provided for her absence, but Michelle Obama, 60, has been a vocal critic of Trump, 78, throughout his presidency. Her decision follows her recent no-show at Carter’s funeral, where her husband, former President Barack Obama, sat beside Trump.
At the time, Michelle was reportedly on an extended vacation in Hawaii, and her team cited a scheduling conflict but offered no additional explanation.
Obama’s interaction with Trump at the funeral, including moments of apparent camaraderie, drew significant media attention.
Meanwhile, all other living former presidents and their spouses, including George W. and Laura Bush, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Joe and Jill Biden, are expected to attend Trump’s second inauguration on January 20.
This marks a departure from January 2017, when both Barack and Michelle Obama attended Trump’s inauguration. During the 2024 campaign, Michelle Obama actively supported Vice President Kamala Harris, taking pointed criticisms of Trump’s behaviour, wealth, and treatment of minorities.
Her sharp rhetoric contrasted with her famous maxim, “When they go low, we go high,” as she urged voters to support Harris.
Notably, Trump and his wife Melania skipped President Biden’s inauguration in 2021 amid Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was fraudulent.
