New Delhi: Former First Lady Michelle Obama will not attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, her office said on Tuesday, without providing any explanation for her decision, CNN reported.
‘She won’t pretend for protocol’s sake’
Michelle is skipping the inauguration allegedly to avoid having to hide her disdain for the incoming president, according to Fox News, which cited new reports. A source close to Michelle told People Magazine: “There’s no overstating her feelings about (Trump). She’s not one to plaster on a pleasant face and pretend for protocol’s sake. Michelle doesn’t do anything because it’s expected or it’s protocol or it’s tradition.”
The source pointed out that Michelle devoted eight years as First Lady, serving in the public eye and working for the greater good, while fulfilling her duties at Trump’s 2017 inauguration. According to sources, Michelle will appear when she has a project or cause to advocate for, but she no longer feels the need to maintain a public presence.
‘She’s no hypocrite’
Longtime allies of Michelle Obama also told The Hill that they viewed her choice to skip the inauguration as an act or form of resistance. “She meant every word she said on the campaign trail with every fiber of her being,” an ally said in the report, adding, “And she’s no hypocrite”. Another longtime aide speculated that Obama was “preserving some credibility” by keeping a distance from Trump.
The former First Lady repeatedly flayed Trump during her campaign trail appearances for Vice President Kamala Harris and in different speeches at the Democratic National Convention in August. Addressing a gathering, she alleged that Trump was spreading “racist lies” and hampering her husband’s political career due to his race. CNN reported that Michelle has openly expressed her animosity towards Trump, accusing him of jeopardising her family’s safety through his rhetoric.
Departure from norm
Although she has opted not to attend Trump’s inauguration, her husband and former President Barack Obama, is scheduled to be at there next week. This is a break from tradition as former presidents and their spouses typically attend the ceremony. Former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush are confirmed to attend Trump’s inauguration. Former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton are also expected to be there.
Michelle missed a gathering of former presidents and their spouses recently. Last week, she also skipped former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, where her husband sat next to Trump. Advisers told CNN that Michelle was absent from the funeral due to a scheduling conflict, as she was in Hawaii on an extended vacation.
