• News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content
'Real reason' Michelle Obama is skipping Donald Trump’s inauguration revealed as she faces backlash over decision

Home> News> Politics

Published 14:46 17 Jan 2025 GMT

'Real reason' Michelle Obama is skipping Donald Trump’s inauguration revealed as she faces backlash over decision

The president-elect will be sworn into office on January 20

Stefania Sarrubba

Stefania Sarrubba

Michelle Obama's decision not to attend Donald Trump's second inauguration next week has sparked a fierce backlash among Republicans and conservatives in the US.

The former First Lady, who has attended every inauguration ceremony, including Trump's first in 2017, will sit this one out.

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

An official explanation for Michelle Obama's absence hasn't been revealed. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
An official explanation for Michelle Obama's absence hasn't been revealed. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Advert

As speculation about the reason why Obama will be missing the president-elect's ceremony continues, a source told People that the ex-First Lady doesn't intend to swallow her feelings about Trump 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."

Advert

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

"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 the inauguration on January 20.

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.

Advert

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.

Donald Trump missed Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021. (Ricky Carioti - Pool/Getty Images)
Donald Trump missed Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021. (Ricky Carioti - Pool/Getty Images)

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

"[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."

Advert

While Michelle won't be in attendance, Barack Obama will be among the guests at the inauguration. Both outgoing President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will attend the ceremony, as well as outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris, who ran against Trump during the latest presidential election.

Former President Bill Clinton and former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will also be there, as will former President George W Bush and his wife, Laura Bush.

Featured Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Ricky Carioti - Pool/Getty Images

Topics: Michelle Obama, Donald Trump, Politics, US News

Stefania Sarrubba
Stefania Sarrubba

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • Department of Justice
    an hour ago

    Prince Andrew's alleged response to Virginia Giuffre 'taking care of him’ publicised in shocking posthumous memoir

    Virginia Giuffre claimed to have been sexually abused by the former Duke of York, after being trafficked to him by Jeffrey Epstein

    News
  • Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Virginia Giuffre recalls disturbing three-word command Prince Andrew was said to have been given first time he met her

    Three years after coming forward with her accusations, the sexual assault lawsuit Giuffre filed against the royal was settled out of court

    News
  • Alex Wong/Getty Images
    3 hours ago

    US army general admits to using ChatGPT to make major decisions

    It comes after OpenAI was awarded a $200 million contract to provide the US Defence Department with artificial intelligence tools

    News
  • Katrina Barber/Getty Images for SXSW/Getty Stock Image
    3 hours ago

    Man who accurately predicted AI and the iPhone has terrifying vision for the future

    Scientist and futurist Ray Kurzweil's predictions for AI are like something out of a Black Mirror episode

    News
  • Michelle Obama breaks silence on why she skipped Donald Trump’s inauguration following backlash over decision
  • Barack Obama slams Donald Trump’s ‘mind boggling’ decision to send troops into Chicago
  • Michelle Obama reveals one question she asked before deciding to miss Donald Trump’s inauguration
  • Michelle Obama reveals real reason she refuses to run for president in 2028 after missing Trump’s inauguration