Michelle Obama has finally discussed her reasons for missing Donald Trump’s January inauguration.
When the former first lady skipped the 78-year-old president’s inauguration in January, it created a commotion.
She missed Jimmy Carter’s burial, when she was meant to be seated close to Trump.
Her repeated absences sparked a wave of accusations that ranged from political animosity to a potential breakup in her marriage to former President Barack Obama.
In a recent episode of her newly launched podcast, which also features actress Taraji P. Henson, the 61-year-old, however, stated that the choice, which she said was met with “ridicule and criticism,” had nothing to do with scandal and was solely related to self-care.
According to Today, she revealed, “I’m at this point in my life where I have to define my life on my terms for the first time.” “So, what are those terms, and will you be attending therapy to resolve all of that?”
“Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies,” the Obamas’ office said in a terse statement at the time regarding the former lawyer’s absence. Michelle Obama, the former first lady, will not be present at the forthcoming inauguration.
Speculation that something more profound was happening was only heightened by the lack of explanation. The New York Post quotes the mother of two as saying, “People couldn’t believe that I was saying no for any other reason, they had to assume that my marriage was falling apart.”
She added that she is currently attempting to teach her daughters, Sasha and Malia, “the art of saying no.” “It took everything in my power to not do the thing that was perceived as right, but do the things that were right for me, that was a hard thing for me to do,” she said.
Obama stated, “I see it in them – pleasing, excelling, not wanting to take anything for granted, always showing gratitude. I want them to start practicing the art of saying no now.” “I think they’re sufficient at the moment. It’s a habit. You have to develop that muscle. Because you cannot develop it if you do not continuously construct it.
The former First Lady attended Trump’s inauguration in 2020, demonstrating her strong opinions about the previous president.
According to The Independent, she has previously called him “a predator found liable for sexual abuse,” “a convicted felon, a known slumlord,” and more.