Former First Lady Michelle Obama has explained why she didn’t attend Donald Trump’s second inauguration or President Jimmy Carter’s funeral earlier this year.
She spoke about her decision on the April 23 episode of her podcast, IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, co-hosted with her brother. Actress Taraji P. Henson also joined the conversation.
I Needed to Make a Choice for Me
Michelle said her decision was personal, not political. She wanted to take care of her own needs, even if others didn’t understand.
“People couldn’t believe I was saying no just for me,” she said. “They assumed something was wrong with my marriage.”
She shared how hard it was to say no, but she needed to make a choice that felt right.
“It took everything in me not to do what was expected,” Michelle added.
No Dress, No Regrets
To stay committed to her choice, Michelle made sure she didn’t have anything to wear for the events.
“I usually travel with a dress in case of emergencies,” she said. “But this time, I told my team not to prepare anything. I didn’t even want the option.”
This helped her avoid last-minute pressure to attend.
Teaching Her Daughters to Say No
Michelle also wanted to teach her daughters, Malia and Sasha, about the power of saying no.
“I want them to learn how to set boundaries,” she said. “It’s something you have to practice.”
She hopes her daughters grow up knowing putting their needs first is okay.
It’s Okay to Choose Yourself
Michelle also spoke on another podcast earlier this month, Work in Progress, about how women are judged for prioritizing themselves.
“People couldn’t understand that I was just choosing me,” she said. “They thought something had to be wrong in my life.”
She ended the podcast with a strong message:
“It’s time for me to make grown-woman decisions and own them.”
