Why Michelle Obama is skipping Trump’s inauguration: reports

Former first lady Michelle Obama will skip President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next week, reportedly so he won’t have to hide his disdain for the incoming president, according to new reports.

“You can’t exaggerate her feelings toward (Trump). She’s not someone who puts on a nice face and pretends for protocol reasons,” said a source close to the former first lady. told People magazine. “Michelle doesn’t do anything because it’s expected or protocol or tradition.”

“She served before the public and did all the public good she could for eight years as first lady,” the source said of Obama fulfilling her duties at Trump’s inauguration in 2017. “You’ll see her when she has a project or cause to promote but no longer feels the need to be a public figure,” they continued.

Michelle Obama’s former allies also told The Hill that they believed her decision to skip the inauguration was an act of resistance.

MICHELLE OBAMA TO SKIP TRUMP’S INAUGURATION, 11 DAYS AFTER MISSING CARTER’S FUNERAL

“You shouldn’t exaggerate her feelings toward (Trump). She’s not someone who puts on a nice face and pretends for protocol reasons,” a source told People magazine about the former first lady who skipped Trump’s inauguration. . (Getty Images)

“She meant every word she said on the campaign trail with every fiber of her being,” one ally said. in the report. “And she’s no hypocrite.”

Another longtime adviser speculated that Obama was “saving some credibility” by avoiding Trump.

The former first lady repeatedly received blows at Trump while he was on the campaign trail for Vice President Kamala Harris and during his speeches at the Democratic National Convention in August. In a speech at the Democratic National Committee, she accused Trump of spreading “racist lies” and opposing her husband’s political career because of his race.

While she will not attend, her husband, former President Barack Obama, will attend the Jan. 20 inauguration event along with former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and their spouses.

TRUMP AND OBAMA CHAT AND LAUGH AT CARTER’S FUNERAL LIGHT UP SOCIAL MEDIA

Former President Barack Obama (second right) and then-President Donald Trump laugh as former First Lady Michelle Obama (right) and Melania Trump watch the inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th President of the United States in The western front of the United States Capitol in Washington, United States, January 20, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Segar (Reuters)

In 2021, Trump in particular broke tradition by not attending President Biden’s inauguration, joining only a handful of presidents throughout American history who have not attended the inaugurations of their successors.

This will be the second time in two weeks that Michelle Obama has skipped a meeting of former presidents and their spouses. Obama did not attend former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral last week with her husband, who was seated next to Trump.

Her aides told CNN’s Jeff Zeleny that she was not present at the funeral due to a scheduling conflict and was in Hawaii on an extended vacation.

The Obama Foundation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Former President Obama laughs during a conversation with President-elect Donald Trump at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral on Thursday. (Getty Images)

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News that Michelle Obama skipped Trump’s inauguration comes after former first lady Melania Trump revealed that she and her husband did not receive enough information from the Obama administration about her move to the White House in January 2017.

“The difference is I know where I’m going. I know the rooms we’re going to live in. I know the processes,” the former first lady told “Fox & Friends” co-host Ainsley Earhardt on Monday.

“The first time was a challenge. We didn’t have much information, we had the information from the previous administration. But this time I have everything. I have the plans. I could move. I already packed my bags. “I already selected the furniture that will be place. So this time, the second time, it’s a very different transition.”

Fox News’ Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.