Michelle Obama will skip Trump’s inauguration
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Mrs Barack Obama has expressed personal disdain for the President-elect.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON – Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, her office said in a statement on Jan 14.
“Former president Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies,” the statement said. “Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration.”
The statement did not provide an explanation for why Mrs Obama was skipping the inauguration, which is traditionally attended by former presidents and their spouses. But it is the second high-profile event in the past two weeks that she has declined to take part in that would have brought her face-to-face with Trump.
Mrs Obama has expressed personal disdain for the President-elect, who pushed the lie that her husband was not a US citizen and has a history of making racist and sexist statements
“For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us,” she said during her speech at the Democratic National Convention in August 2024
“See, his limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who happen to be black,” she added.
Mrs Obama did not accompany her husband to the funeral of former president Jimmy Carter
Her absence at Mr Carter’s funeral was attributed to a scheduling conflict, but it was notable that by protocol, she would have been seated next to Trump, who engaged Mr Barack Obama in a conversation during the ceremony.
The Obamas, who served as surrogates for Vice-President Kamala Harris on the campaign trail, issued a statement shortly after the election congratulating Trump on his victory.
“This is obviously not the outcome we had hoped for, given our profound disagreements with the Republican ticket on a whole host of issues,” the statement said. “But living in a democracy is about recognising that our point of view won’t always win out, and being willing to accept the peaceful transfer of power.”
Mrs Obama is not the first to buck the tradition of former first families attending an inauguration.
Trump and his wife Melania did not attend President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021
