WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Michelle Obama, the former First Lady, has announced that she will not be present at the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. This marks the second occasion in a short span where she has opted out of an event involving former U.S. leaders and their spouses. In contrast, former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton will all be in attendance.
Representatives have confirmed that Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton will accompany their husbands for the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for January 20 at the Capitol. A statement from the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama indicated that while former President Barack Obama is set to attend the upcoming inaugural events, Michelle Obama will not be participating.
There has been no information disclosed regarding Michelle Obama’s reasons for missing Trump’s inauguration. Notably, she also did not attend the recent state funeral of former President Jimmy Carter held in Washington, D.C., where fellow former Presidents Trump, Obama, Bush, and Clinton, along with their spouses, were present — with her absence being particularly noted.
Sources close to Bill Clinton have confirmed that he will participate in Trump’s inauguration, and a spokesperson has verified that Hillary Clinton will also be there. Additionally, the Office of George W. Bush stated that he and Laura Bush will attend the ceremony as well.
At last week’s funeral service at Washington National Cathedral, Michelle Obama was the only former First Lady absent. Interestingly, during the ceremony, her husband, Barack Obama, and Trump were seen sitting together, engaging in conversation and laughter, which stood out given their complicated political history.
Throughout the previous election cycles, Michelle Obama publicly campaigned against Trump, showcasing her deep disapproval. In her memoir released in 2018, she expressed her astonishment upon learning that Trump would take over the presidency from her husband. Her criticisms included a rebuke of Trump’s “birther” movement, which raised unfounded questions about Barack Obama’s citizenship.
Last fall, she was active in campaigning for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, delivering a poignant speech in Michigan where she urged male voters to support the vice president, cautioning that their decision could impact women’s safety should Trump reclaim the presidency.
In contrast, all three former presidents and their spouses attended Trump’s initial inauguration in 2017, which included Hillary Clinton, even after her defeat to Trump in the 2016 election. Former President Jimmy Carter was also present at that time.
