Donald Trump will be sworn into office for the second time on January 20, after defeating Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election—but Michelle Obama will not be there to mark the moment.
A spokesperson for the Obama family confirmed to People ahead of the day that the former first lady would skip the ceremony, which falls on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The announcement did not give a reason for Obama’s absence. It comes after she missed Jimmy Carter’s state funeral—where she would have been seated next to Trump. CNN reported at the time that Obama had a scheduling conflict and was “still in Hawaii on an extended holiday vacation” when the funeral took place.
Barack and Michelle Obama were among the many politicians who fiercely supported Harris in her race against Trump, and Michelle gave an impassioned speech championing Harris at the Democratic National Convention.
“Something wonderfully magical is in the air, isn’t it?” she said after receiving a long standing ovation from the DNC crowd. “You know, we’re feeling it here in this arena, but it’s spreading all across this country. We love a familiar feeling that’s been buried too deep for far too long. You know what I’m talking about. It’s the contagious power of hope.”
Mrs. Obama also gave a hard critique of Trump, addressing his criminal background, questionable business dealings, and all-around values. “Who’s gonna tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those ‘Black jobs’?” she asked, ironically appropriating a line from Trump’s June 2024 debate against President Joe Biden, to thunderous applause.
Barack Obama and Biden will likely be present at Trump’s ceremony, as it is common for former presidents to attend each presidential inauguration.