Special Poll
Former First Lady Michelle Obama will not be attending President-elect Trump’s inauguration next week, a decision coming on the heels of her absence from former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral in Washington, D.C., the previous week.
The Office of Barack and Michelle Obama confirmed in a statement that while former President Barack Obama will participate in the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies, Michelle Obama will not be present.
This announcement follows an event where Barack Obama and Donald Trump were seen engaging in a light-hearted exchange at Carter’s funeral, which was held at the National Cathedral. During the service, a moment between Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush, who playfully tapped Obama’s stomach, caught the public’s attention and went viral, sparking discussions about Trump’s relationships with other former presidents.
Michelle Obama’s decision to skip the inauguration is particularly significant given her previous outspoken criticisms of Trump. She has publicly expressed her discontent with Trump, especially criticizing his long-standing promotion of the birther conspiracy, which falsely claimed her husband was not born in the United States and therefore should not have been eligible to serve as President.