Jimmy Carter, America’s 39th president died on Dec. 29, 2024. His state funeral, which was held in Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 9, was attended by all five living presidents.
Former vice presidents Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, and Al Gore, along with former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, were also in attendance. Melania Trump, current first lady, also made an appearance. Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, Vice President JD Vance, and other lawmakers were seen. Several former and current world leaders could also be spotted throughout the event. The one person who could not be seen was Michelle Obama, wife and former first lady of Barack Obama.
Crystal Carson, Director of Communications for her office, relayed that “Mrs. Obama sends her thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from the remarkable former president.” She seemingly was not able to make it because of a scheduling conflict; she remained in Hawaii where she had been for an “extended vacation.”
Similarly, she didn’t attend President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Trump was welcomed back into office for his second, non-consecutive term as the 47th president of the United States. Former president Joe Biden and vice president Harris attended, a stark contrast to the last inauguration, which Trump skipped to instead go back to Palm Beach County.
For the inauguration, Mrs.Obama gave no comment as to why she was not going to be attending, though it has been said that she, instead, spent the day commemorating Martin Luther King Jr., whose holiday fell on the same day as inauguration this year. She posted on Instagram that day writing, “Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service always inspires me” in the caption. She continued with “This #MLKDay, I hope you’ll join me and @WhenWeAllVote in honoring Dr. King’s life and legacy by getting involved in your community,” a clear indicator as to where her priorities lie.
While attending the inauguration is not mandatory, it is still seen by many as a show of respect during the peaceful transfer of power from one president to another. For most Americans, Mrs.Obama’s absence was only a small hiccup in the road of what has been called the holiest day of politics by Fox News, who also reported that they don’t “like what she’s doing” and applied the same opinion to Trump’s absence from Biden’s swearing in.
Throughout history, presidents and first ladies have made an effort to be present for events like these. Her absence may bring people to wonder whether or not America is at a place where traditions are being dismantled.
