Elections

Michelle Obama Is Skipping Donald Trump’s Second Inauguration

NO, THANKS

Her office’s announcement comes after she also gave Jimmy Carter’s funeral a miss.

Former US First Lady Michelle Obama speaks on the second day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on August 20, 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris will formally accept the party's nomination for president at the DNC which runs from August 19-22 in Chicago.
AFP via Getty Images

Michelle Obama will not attend Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, her office said Tuesday.

“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 said in a a statement to the Associated Press.

Her absence comes after she also skipped the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter last week, though her husband and all four other living U.S. presidents and their wives attended.

From left, First Lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, former President Barack Obama, and former First Lady Michelle Obama talk on the steps of the U.S. Capitol as the Obamas prepare to leave Washington following the swearing in of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.
From left, First Lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, former President Barack Obama, and former First Lady Michelle Obama talk on the steps of the U.S. Capitol as the Obamas prepare to leave Washington following the swearing in of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. Bill Clark/Getty Images

In that case, a spokesperson for Obama said that she had a scheduling conflict. This time, though, no explanation for the absence was offered.

Obama was supposed to sit next to Trump at Carter’s funeral, but the spot was instead filled by her husband, who made headlines for laughing as he chatted with the president-elect.

Michelle Obama has been a vocal critic of Trump.

She was one of the highest-profile proxies for Kamala Harris during her bid for the presidency last year. In October, she went viral for a speech urging voters to cast their ballots against Trump if they cared about women.

“We all know we have a lot more work to do in this country,” she said at the time. “But to anyone out there thinking about sitting out this election, or voting for Donald Trump, or voting for a third-party candidate in protest, because you’re fed up. Let me warn you, your rage does not exist in a vacuum. If we don’t get this election right, your wife, your daughter, your mother, we as women will become collateral damage to your rage.”

President Donald Trump (2nd-L) First Lady Melania Trump (L), former President Barack Obama (2nd-R) and former First Lady Michelle Obama walk together following the inauguration, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2017. President-Elect Donald Trump was sworn-in as the 45th President.
President Donald Trump (2nd-L) First Lady Melania Trump (L), former President Barack Obama (2nd-R) and former First Lady Michelle Obama walk together following the inauguration, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2017. President-Elect Donald Trump was sworn-in as the 45th President. Getty Images

AP reported that former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are attending Trump’s inauguration. They will be joined by their spouses, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton.

The White House previously confirmed that, as is typical, President Joe Biden will attend his successor’s inauguration, even though Trump skipped Biden’s swearing-in back in 2021. Trump, who lost the 2020 presidential election, falsely maintained that it was rigged against him.

All living presidents and their spouses, including Michelle Obama, attended Trump’s first inauguration in 2017.