Topics: Michelle Obama, Donald Trump, Politics, US News
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.
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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."
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.
Kevin O’Leary on Michelle Obama missing inauguration.
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) January 17, 2025
"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."
Anyone tell him the tradition ended 4 years ago?
pic.twitter.com/BWiHEZRNkm
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, 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."
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.
