Michelle Obama Ditches Carter’s Funeral For Disgusting Reason
Michelle Obama, the former first lady, was notably absent from Thursday’s memorial service for former President Jimmy Carter.
Despite the attendance of other living past presidents and first ladies at the Washington National Cathedral to pay their respects, Mrs. Obama did not join her husband, former President Barack Obama, for the occasion.
At the service, First Ladies Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Melania Trump, and the current First Lady, Jill Biden, were all present.
According to CNN, Michelle Obama cited “scheduling conflicts” as the reason for her absence.
“I’m told by her advisors that she has scheduling conflicts,” CNN reporter Jeff Zeleney explained during the network’s coverage of the funeral. “She’s actually still in Hawaii for an extended holiday vacation.”
When reached for comment, Michelle Obama’s spokesperson confirmed the explanation, releasing a statement to DailyMail.com reiterating the scheduling issue.
Some speculated that Michelle’s decision may have been motivated by a desire to avoid another encounter with Donald Trump, the president-elect, who was present at the ceremony.
Trump was seated next to Barack Obama during the service, and the two were seen engaging in a brief but cordial conversation inside the church. Trump leaned forward to speak to the former president, prompting Obama to smile and laugh in response.
Social media quickly reacted to Michelle Obama’s absence, with some accusing her of disrespecting the Carter family and others praising her decision.
“Very disrespectful, and if Melania did this, it would be 24-hour news,” wrote Sara Rose on X.
Meanwhile, others applauded Michelle’s absence as a strategic move to avoid an encounter with Trump.
“Michelle Obama must’ve found out the seating arrangements and said, ‘Nah, I’m gonna stay in Hawaii,’” quipped social media user Wu Tang Kids.
“Good for her!!!! Black women have clocked OUT, and I’m here for it!!!!” wrote journalist Terrance Omar.
The last time Michelle Obama shared a public space with Trump was at the funeral for former President George H.W. Bush in 2018. At that service, the Obamas were seated between former President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton on one side and then-President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on the other.
During that event, Michelle Obama drew attention for her apparent discomfort, notably avoiding eye contact and exchanging a stiff handshake with Trump.
Michelle Obama has previously been outspoken about her feelings toward Trump, particularly after he perpetuated the “birther” conspiracy in 2015, falsely claiming that Barack Obama was not born in the United States.
In her memoir Becoming, she wrote, “Donald Trump was endangering my family’s safety with his loud and careless innuendos. And for this, I’d never forgive him.”
She further criticized Trump’s actions as being fueled by “underlying bigotry and xenophobia,” calling them “crazy and mean-spirited.”