Michelle Obama defends Trump inauguration snub: I didn’t care about ‘doing the right thing’
Share and Follow


Michelle Obama is defending her decision to skip President Donald Trump’s second inauguration.

“You know, as a box-checking person who has been checking her whole life, doing the right thing, trying to always be an example, always going high … I think I just told myself, ‘I think I’ve done enough of that,’ and if I haven’t, then I never will,” the former first lady told Steven Bartlett during Thursday’s episode of “The Diary of a CEO” podcast.

“It’ll never be enough,” she continued. “So let me start now.”

In April, the “Becoming” author clapped back at reports that she didn’t go to the January 20 inauguration with her husband, former president Barack Obama, because their marriage was on the rocks.

“People couldn’t believe that I was saying no for any other reason,” the mom of two, 61 said during the April 23 episode of her  “IMO” podcast with brother Craig Robinson.

“They had to assume that my marriage was falling apart.”

Michelle clarified that she ultimately decided to do what was right for herself. And despite attending Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 alongside Barack, she opted against attending the second time around.

“It took everything in my power to not do the thing that was perceived as right, but do the thing that was right for me,” she told podcast guest Taraji P. Henson. “That was a hard thing for me to do.”

Elsewhere in the April 23 podcast episode, she admitted she “basically tricked” herself into missing the massive event by ensuring that she didn’t “have anything to wear” for it.

“I was like, if I’m not going to do this thing, I’ve got to tell my team,” she explained. “I don’t even want to have a dress ready, right?”

Had the appropriate attire been ready, she reasoned, she’d be more likely to say, “Let me do the right thing [by attending].”

The former attorney said the decision to skip the event helped her begin to practice the “art of saying no” — something she feels is important for “the young women out there” to learn.

“After all that I’ve done in this world, if … I still have to show people that I love my country, that I’m doing the right thing, that I am … going high all the time, all I’m doing is keeping that crazy bar that our mothers and grandmothers set for us,” she explained.

The mother of Sasha, 23, and Malia, 26, said adopting the ability to say “no” is especially important “in the face of a lot of hypocrisy and contradiction.”

As for the marriage trouble rumors, Michelle assured Sophia Bush during an April 9 appearance on the “Work in Progress” podcast that her 32-year union is solid.

“If [decisions don’t] fit into the sort of stereotype of what people think we should do, then it gets labeled as something negative and horrible,” she said while laughing off the rumors.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

A Deep Dive into Billy Bob Thornton’s Political Perspectives: Insights from the ‘Landman’ Star

Axelle/bauer-griffin/Getty Images Billy Bob…

Plastic Surgeon Offers Insight on Changes to Ryan Seacrest’s Appearance

Ryan Seacrest’s recent transformation has sparked widespread conversation,…

Valerie Bertinelli Reveals Weight Gain Led to Losing Spokesperson Role

Valerie Bertinelli is candidly discussing the emotional impact of losing a prominent…

Kevin Costner’s Next Chapter: What’s on the Horizon After ‘Yellowstone’ Drama and Career Milestones?

Kevin Costner chose to bid farewell to 2025 in the serene surroundings…

Dorit Kemsley Teases Tension with Kyle Richards in RHOBH Season 15

The 14th season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was rife…

Whitney Rose Calls Out Meredith Marks for Off-Camera Behavior and “Lies” on RHOSLC

244 Credit: Instagram Whitney Rose took a bold stand against Meredith Marks…

Explosive Text Revealed: Taylor Swift’s Fiery Message to Blake Lively About Justin Baldoni

Fresh revelations have emerged from recent court documents, shedding light on text…

Meredith Claims Britani Backs Controversial Figure: A Deep Dive into Allegations of Bigotry Support

The latest reunion episode of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City…