Former First Lady Michelle Obama has offered new insight into why she chose not to attend former President Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January—a decision that sparked speculation and rumors about her personal life.
Although her husband, former President Barack Obama, attended both the inauguration and the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter alone, Michelle said her absence was a personal decision rooted in self-care.
Speaking on the Monday episode of her podcast IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson, she shared, “It started with not having anything to wear. I’m always prepared for funerals, for anything—I usually travel with the right clothes just in case. But this time, I told my team, ‘I don’t even want a dress ready,’ because I didn’t want to feel pressured to go just to ‘do the right thing.’”
The Obamas had released a statement ahead of the January 20 inauguration confirming that Barack would attend, while Michelle would not.
In her podcast conversation with her brother, Craig Robinson, and actress Taraji P. Henson, Michelle also addressed the public reaction, including false assumptions that her marriage was in trouble.
“My decision to say no to certain events this year was met with so much criticism. People assumed something had to be wrong in my marriage, when really, I was just making a choice for myself,” she said.
Henson praised Michelle’s stance, saying women often serve as “shock absorbers” for their families and public expectations. “When do you ever get to live for you? I applaud you,” Henson said.
Michelle added that she’s now focused on teaching her daughters, Sasha and Malia, the importance of boundaries. “I want them to start practicing the art of saying no… it’s a muscle you have to build. If you don’t, you lose it.”
In a separate interview on the Work in Progress podcast with Sophia Bush earlier this month, Michelle also addressed the rumors directly: “Skipping the inauguration had nothing to do with my marriage. It was about making a decision that felt right for me, even when it was hard.”
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