Former President Barack Obama arrived at the US Capitol on Monday for President-elect Trump’s inauguration ceremony without the former first lady Michelle Obama.
Obama was introduced at the ceremony and walked into the swearing-in ceremony inside the Capitol alone. The ceremony was moved indoors due to extreme cold.
Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush arrived with their spouses, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former First Lady Laura Bush.
Michelle Obama’s absence from the inauguration is not a surprise, since she is The Obamas released a statement last week announcing that while the former president would be in attendance, the former first lady would not be.
OBAMA WISHES WIFE MICHELLE HAPPY BIRTHDAY AS SHE STAYS AWAY FROM KEY PUBLIC EVENTS
Former President Barack Obama arrives before the 60th presidential inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool Photo via AP)
The Obamas’ statement did not give a reason why the former first lady skipped the event. Michelle Obama also skipped former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral earlier this month.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama also skipped former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral earlier this month. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images, File)
A significant moment at Carter’s funeral occurred when Obama and Trump who sat next to each other, were seen talking and laughing like old friends despite the history of political enmity between the Democratic former president and the returning Republican.
From left, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President George W. Bush, former First Lady Laura Bush and former President Barack Obama arrive before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. . (Chip Somodevilla/Pool Photo via AP)
All three former presidents and their wives attended Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, including Hillary Clinton, after losing the 2016 presidential election to Trump. Carter also attended.
From left, former President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush and former President Barack Obama arrive before the 60th presidential inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool Photo via AP)
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Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump did not attend the 2021 inauguration of President Biden.
Michael Dorgan of Fox News Digital and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
