By Former First Lady Michelle Obama was notably absent from the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral on Thursday, citing a scheduling conflict. A representative confirmed that Mrs. Obama is currently in Hawaii but extended her heartfelt condolences to the Carter family.
“Mrs. Obama sends her thoughts and prayers to the Carter family and all who were inspired by the remarkable former President,” said Crystal Carson, a spokesperson for the former first lady.
Michelle Obama’s absence subtly altered the seating arrangement, resulting in former President Donald Trump sitting next to her husband, former President Barack Obama, causing some to speculate that the former First Lady wanted nothing to do with sitting next to the president-elect.
The Daily Beast noted for example that Obama has been an outspoken critic of Trump.
Michelle Obama and her husband emerged as two of the most prominent and influential proxies for Harris during her unsuccessful bid for president.
In October, Michelle went viral for an emphatic speech urging voters to cast their ballot for Harris if they cared about the safety of American women.
“We all know we have a lot more work to do in this country,” she said at the time. “But to anyone out there thinking about sitting out this election, or voting for Donald Trump, or voting for a third-party candidate in protest, because you’re fed up. Let me warn you, your rage does not exist in a vacuum. If we don’t get this election right, your wife, your daughter, your mother, we as women will become collateral damage to your rage.”
While Michelle may not like Donald Trump, Barack appeared to enjoy talking to him. The two were observed engaging in conversation for several minutes before the service began, a rare moment of interaction between the longtime political adversaries.
The scene seemed to flummox newscasters on NBC News, who apparently expected the reception between the two to be cold.
NBC is at a loss for words 🤣 pic.twitter.com/vG5tqeidrT
— Karli Bonne’ 🇺🇸 (@KarluskaP) January 9, 2025
The solemn occasion brought together all five living U.S. presidents—Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Joe Biden—along with their spouses. Attendees included Melania Trump, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Jill Biden. Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, along with former Vice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence, were also present, showcasing bipartisan recognition of Carter’s contributions to the nation.
The funeral honored the legacy of Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, celebrated for his dedication to human rights and global diplomacy.
[Read More: Biden Goes After Cigarettes On The Way Out]
