At the time of the inauguration, Obama stayed mum about her absence, but a source close to her suggested that Trump’s attacks on her family and people of color in general played a role. “She’s not one to plaster on a pleasant face and pretend for protocol’s sake,” the source told People.

Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Jan. 20, 2025. It's tradition for former presidents and their families to attend, although it's not mandatory. So, when former president Barack Obama made an appearance with his wife notably missing, people took notice.