Michelle Obama has addressed the lingering questions surrounding her absence from President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, stating clearly that her decision was a personal one not tied to her marriage or political drama.
The former U.S. First Lady opened up on her podcast “IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson,” where she revealed a fresh reason behind her choice.
She explained that skipping the January 20 event was part of a bigger effort to choose herself even in the face of public expectations.
“It started with not having anything to wear,” Obama said during the April 22 episode. “I mean, I had affirmatively, cause I’m always prepared for any funeral, anything.
I walk around with the right dress, I travel with clothes just in case something pops off. So I was like, if I’m not going to do this thing, I got to tell my team, I don’t even want to have a dress ready, right? Because it’s so easy to just say, let me do the right thing.”
Her husband, former President Barack Obama, did attend the event and also represented the family at Jimmy Carter’s funeral on January 9.
However, Michelle’s absence sparked rumors online, with many speculating that she and Barack Obama were facing marital issues.
Addressing this in her chat with her brother Craig Robinson and actress Taraji P. Henson, she said,
“My decision to skip the inauguration, what people don’t realize, or my decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me were met with such ridicule and criticism. People couldn’t believe that I was saying no for any other reason, that they had to assume that my marriage was falling apart, you know?”
Henson supported her decision, saying women often take on more emotional weight than they should.
“You’ve had to be shock absorbers for your husband, for your children, for your mom, for family, your loved ones, because of where you were sitting in the public eye,” she said. “That’s not fair to you. When do you ever get to live for you? I applaud you.”
Moreover, Obama emphasized that she’s now teaching her daughters the importance of setting boundaries early in life.
“I want them to start practising now the art of saying no, because I see it in them — pleasing, excelling, not wanting to take anything for granted, always showing gratitude,” she said.
“Feeling like they’re enough right now. It’s a practice. It’s a muscle that you have to build. Because if you don’t constantly build it, you don’t develop it.”
During a recent appearance on Sophia Bush’s “Work in Progress” podcast, Obama also dismissed the divorce rumors outright.
“I’m here really trying to own my life and intentionally practice making the choice that was right for me,” she said.
“And it took everything in my power to not do the thing that was perceived as right, but do the things that was right for me — that was a hard thing for me to do.”
Meanwhile, in a statement shared with the Associated Press before the event, the Obamas confirmed Michelle would not attend the inauguration.
“Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies,” it read. “Former First Lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration.”
