WASHINGTON — Former first lady Michelle Obama, who skipped former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral here last week, will not attend Donald Trump’s inauguration Monday, her office said Tuesday.
After attending Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, Michelle Obama broke into tears a short time later. On her podcast, she has talked about how she cried shortly after that inauguration, which marked the end of the Obama’s eight years in the White House. Trump’s dark speech about “American carnage” was a sharp contract to Obama’s messages of “hope.”
Former President Barack Obama will be at Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, just as he attended the last two inaugurations. Former presidents and their spouses have places of honor on presidential inaugural platforms at the West Front of the Capitol.
Obama sat next to Trump at Carter’s funeral at the National Cathedral. Mrs. Obama would have been seated next to her husband.
The offices of Barack and Michelle Obama released a statement on Tuesday confirming Obama’s plan to be present at the Trump’s inauguration and Mrs. Obama’s absence.
“Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former First Lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration,” the brief statement said.
Last Thursday, the day of Carter’s funeral, a source close to the Obama family told the Sun-Times Michelle Obama was at the Obama home in Hawaii. The family normally spends the holidays in Obama’s native state. Even though Michelle Obama is a Chicago native, she often said when she was first lady that she does not like cold weather and doesn’t miss Chicago’s icy climate.
Washington has been in a deep freeze; Monday’s weather is predicted to be below freezing.