Barack Obama attends Trump’s inauguration alone as reason for Michelle’s absence is revealed

Viewers of Donald Trump's presidential inauguration in Washington D.C. today have all made the same point after spotting Barack Obama attending the festivities alone.

Obama was welcomed into the Capitol Rotunda today (20 Jan) along with several other former US leaders as Trump takes on his second stint in the White House.

Bill and Hillary Clinton were the first to be announced, walking into the central office beside one another, followed closely by George W. and Laura Bush.

Obama, however, walked in alone, with wife Michelle absent from the festivities, and viewers at home have been left saddened.

"I feel bad for Barack Obama! Homeboy is alone," one viewer wrote on X.

Another penned: "Barack Obama came alone?"

"Michelle Obama leaving Barack Obama kinda wrong isn’t it? Feel likes it’s just kinda embarrassing for him to be attending alone," a third penned.

Another went on: "Unexpectedly felt a bit sad for Barack Obama watching him walk in alone today without Michelle. She should be there."

So, where exactly is Michelle?

Obama walked into the Capitol Rotunda alone (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Earlier this month, Michelle didn't attend former president Jimmy Carter's state funeral due to a 'scheduling conflict'. It was later reported she was on holiday in Hawaii.

As speculation about the reason why the mother-of-two missed Trump's ceremony continues, a source told People that the ex-first lady doesn't intend to swallow her feelings about the Republican representative because of protocol.

“There’s no overstating her feelings about [Trump]. She’s not one to plaster on a pleasant face and pretend for protocol’s sake,” the source told the outlet.

“Michelle doesn’t do anything because it’s expected or it’s protocol or it’s tradition," they continued.

“She would be expected to swallow her feelings in the spotlight if she attended his second inauguration."

Meanwhile, criticism of Michelle continues in conservative milieux, with Canadian businessman Kevin O'Leary pointing out on Fox News that he thinks the former FLOTUS's behaviour is 'wrong'.

Much has been said about Michelle's absence (Mark Wilson/Staff)

"This tradition has gone on for over 100 years... You have to respect it. I don't like what she's doing here. I'm against it. I think it's wrong," he said about Michelle missing today's inauguration.

As some have reminded Trump supporters on social media, it was the president-elect who first made a joke of their beloved traditions four years ago.

In 2021, Trump did not attend Joe Biden's inaugural ceremony, becoming the first outgoing president to not attend since Andrew Johnson in 1869. The then-outgoing first lady Melania Trump also skipped the ceremony.

In 2023, Michelle Obama weighed in on attending Trump's 2017 inauguration with her husband.

"[T]here was no diversity, there was no color on that stage," she said on her The Light Podcast. "There was no reflection of the broader sense of America. Many people took pictures of me, and they’re like, you weren’t in a good mood. No, I was not."

Following her husband's entrance, outgoing president Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were welcomed into the festivities, as well as VP Kamala Harris, who ran against Trump during the latest presidential election.