Former First Lady Michelle Obama has been the subject of criticism from Trump supporters after she refrained from attending President Donald Trump’s highly anticipated inauguration on Monday. Obama had just recently skipped the funeral of late former President Jimmy Carter weeks earlier due to scheduling issues with what was reported as an “extended vacation” in Hawaii.
However, former President Barrack Obama attended the event without his wife, sitting alongside other former presidents and first ladies. “Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration,” a statement from the Office of Barrack and Michelle Obama read.
Following the news, many interpreted the move as a snub toward the Trump family. Anonymous sources who claim to be close to the former first lady seem to corroborate this narrative. “There’s no overstating her feelings about [Trump]. She’s not one to plaster on a pleasant face and pretend for protocol’s sake,” one source said. “Michelle doesn’t do anything because it’s expected or it’s protocol or it’s tradition,” they added.
One person under the username of The Duke of Spain suggested that the former first lady should “take a class” on “how to be classy,” preferably taught by Melania Trump. “Michelle Obama should take a class on how to be classy and maybe she should take it from Melania,” the post read. “Not showing up at Carter’s funeral is one thing. Not showing up to Trump’s inauguration is 100% classless. It speaks volumes and not surprised,” they added.
Others pointed out that all other first ladies were planning to attend the important ceremony. Fox News wrote on X, “SECOND SNUB: Former President Barrack Obama will not be accompanied by former first lady Michelle Obama at Trump’s second inauguration, even though all other living former presidents and first ladies are planning to attend.”
Famous Musician Kid Rock addressed the incident during a recent interview with Fox News’ Jesse Watters. “I was actually listening to your show a little bit before I got in the truck here and I heard Michelle Obama’s not attending,” he said. “I would kindly remind her that years back when [Barack] Obama was first elected, I did not vote for him, but they asked me to play the inauguration.”
“And I played it and I went, had a good time. I went for out of respect to the presidency. So I would kindly remind Miss Michelle about that,” he said as Watters chuckled. Rock added that Michelle Obama seems “a little angry,” before adding “I don’t know. Can’t say something nice…”. However, some on the left cheered on the move from Obama.
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The Tribune reported on commentary from ABC’s “The View” where the panelists praised Michelle Obama for skipping the event. “I think when they go low, you have to meet that energy and perhaps go even lower, become small like an ant and go to the earth’s crust,” co-host Sunny Hostin said, seemingly referring to Obama’s famous quote, “When they go low, we go high.”
When the news was brought up by her co-hosts, Hostin said, “Yes, Lord, she is so right. She is so right.” She added, “And I think when you see that, you understand why she wouldn’t go.” Hostin then cited reports that Obama did not enjoy Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 due to the lack of “color” or “diversity” that was present on stage.
Watch “The View” talk about Obama below:
Featured image credit: Tim Pierce from Berlin, MA, USA, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Michelle_Obama_(29869565383).jpg