Michelle Obama to skip inauguration after absence at Jimmy Carter’s funeral
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Former first lady’s office provides no explanation for plan to miss Trump ceremony in unusual break from tradition. The former first lady Michelle Obama will skip Donald Trump’s upcoming presidential inauguration, marking her second absence from a major gathering of US political figures this month.
While her husband and former president Barack Obama will join fellow formers Bill Clinton and George W Bush at the 20 January ceremony, Michelle Obama will not be in attendance. Her office provided no explanation for her planned absence from the event at the US Capitol.
The announcement follows her notable absence from the former president Jimmy Carter’s state funeral last week, where Barack Obama was seen in seemingly cordial conversation with Trump, despite their historically fraught relationship. Michelle Obama was in Hawaii at the time.
“Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration,” read a statement from the Obamas’ office. The decision represents an unusual break from traditional protocol, in which former presidents and their spouses typically attend presidential inaugurations regardless of party affiliations. At Trump’s 2017 inauguration, all living former presidents and first ladies were present, including Hillary Clinton, who had lost to Trump in the 2016 election.
