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Where’s Michelle Obama? The reasons for her notable absence at Trump’s inauguration
Former First Lady Michelle Obama was noticeably absent from Donald Trump’s inauguration. Here’s why she skipped the event.

Donald Trump has returned to the White House, having been sworn in as the 47th president-elect of the United States on January 20. The inauguration ceremony took place on Monday in Washington, D.C. In a rare departure from tradition, various world leaders were invited by the president to attend the event.
In addition to foreign dignitaries, the ceremony drew the world’s wealthiest individuals and technology giants, including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, who were seated alongside the new administration’s cabinet.
All living former presidents of the United States were also in attendance: Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden, each accompanied by their respective former first ladies. Notably, Michelle Obama chose not to attend, according to a statement from the couple’s press office.

Michelle Obama missing from Trump’s inauguration
“Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration,” the office of Barack and Michelle Obama shared in a press release earlier this week. While no firm reason was provided, past comments made by the former First Lady provide insights into why she may have decided to skip the event.
Her writings point to her political disagreements with Donald Trump, and his attacks on her family made attending his first inauguration very difficult.
In her 2018 memoir, "Becoming," Michelle reflects on attending the 2017 inauguration, which ushered in Trump’s first term. She described the experience as especially challenging, forcing herself to keep her emotions in check. “I stopped even trying to smile,” she wrote. By the end of the day, she found herself "sobbing uncontrollably” in private.
As Trump’s inauguration ceremony was underway, the former first lady urged Americans to commemorate Martin Luther King Day. “On #MLKDay, we celebrate the life of service of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He reminds us that the power of the people is greater than the people in power and that no matter the setbacks, the fight for justice must continue,” reads a post shared by Michelle Obama on X.
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