MICHELLE Obama’s no-show at Donald Trump’s inauguration was a “hell of a symbolic omission” amid swirling divorce rumours, a broadcaster has said.

Journalist and TV presenter Isabel Oakeshott argued the former First Lady only fuelled speculation about her personal life by staying away from such a high-profile event.

Michelle and Barack Obama has have been seen together publicly since they have speeches at the Democratic Convention five months ago.

Mrs Obama also skipped the state funeral of Jimmy Carter earlier this month, citing a scheduling conflict.

But it later emerged she was on holiday in Hawaii without her husband.

The former US sought to dispel rumours of a split from his wife by posting a gushing social media post to celebrate her birthday last week.

But appearing on a special episode of Never Mind The Ballots, Ms Oakeshott said: “A very, very tough moment for Kamala Harris…

“At least she showed up, which is more than can be said for Michelle Obama.”

Ms Oakeshott branded the no-show as a “hell of a protest”, adding: “If it’s only about, you know, the politics of it and just not wanting to give it the time of day, come on.

“I mean, choose your occasion.”

Addressing the divorce rumours, she added: “You’ll be aware that there are rumors about the state of their marriage.

“I’m not in America right now. I haven’t spoken to any good sources on this, but it’s a hell of a symbolic omission, isn’t it?”

Asked if Mrs Obama’s political aspirations might have been behind hr absence, the broadcaster replied: “If ever there had been a time for her to have run, if the mechanics of it could have been orchestrated, it would have been when Biden clearly had to sort of step aside because the game was up.”

“There’s a lot of speculation cast back a year and a half or so that it would be Michelle Obama running on the Democrat ticket.
And clearly that didn’t happen. I mean, I think she could have probably done tremendously well.

“Whatever you think of her husband’s performance as a president, she’s an incredibly dazzling woman in her own right.