Michelle Obama Shares the *REAL* Reason She Didn't Attend Donald Trump's Inauguration

The Breakdown: Michelle Obama was noticeably absent from Donald Trump’s inauguration in January and folks were mad. However, the former First Lady had a simple explanation for why she skipped the event.

When news broke that Michelle Obama didn’t attend Donald Trump’s second inauguration, social media immediately started spinning wild theories. Some folks were big mad, some were worried, and others were just plain nosey. But there’s a pretty simple reason behind her absence, and it’s not the drama people tried to make it out to be.

On her podcast IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, the former First Lady opened up about her decision to sit this one out. She told guest Taraji P. Henson that skipping the event was about choosing herself for once.

“People couldn't believe that I was saying no for any other reason, they had to assume that my marriage was falling apart,” Michelle said. “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.”

To make sure she didn’t back out of her decision, Michelle said she “tricked” herself by telling her team not to prepare an outfit. “It started with not having anything to wear,” she explained.

She’s been candid about how hard it is for women, especially Black women, to set boundaries. “It’s a muscle that you have to build,” she said. “And I think we suffered, because it’s almost like we started training late in life to build that muscle.” ​

Michelle also made headlines when she chose not to attend President Jimmy Carter’s funeral in January. Barack was there solo, seated among former presidents and first ladies, while Michelle was noticeably absent. Turns out, Michelle was in Hawaii on an extended vacation and had a scheduling conflict, according to her team. She sent her condolences to the Carter family and opted out of the D.C. spotlight.

“President Carter taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service,” Michelle and Barack wrote in a joint statement. “Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from this remarkable man.

Critics have called her out for breaking tradition, but Michelle appears to be prioritizing her peace. The former First Lady opened up about the real work it takes to sustain a marriage—especially one that’s been in the public eye for over three decades.

Barack, for his part, has acknowledged the challenges in their marriage. During a conversation at Hamilton College, he admitted to being "in a deep deficit" with Michelle after his two presidential terms and has been trying to "dig himself out of that hole" by spending quality time together. The couple met in 1989 at a Chicago law firm, married in 1992, and went on to raise two daughters.