Published: April 23, 2025
In a rare and candid moment, former First Lady Michelle Obama opened up about one of the most talked-about absences of her public life: her decision not to attend the inauguration of President Donald Trump in 2017. During the latest episode of her podcast, IMO (In My Opinion), the former first lady offered a deeply personal reflection on why she chose to sit out the ceremonial transfer of power — and why that decision continues to resonate with her today.
Obama’s absence from the event was a notable break from tradition. While it's common for outgoing presidents and first ladies to attend the swearing-in ceremony of their successors as a gesture of unity and continuity, Michelle Obama revealed that for her, the choice to stay away was about “setting boundaries” and “preserving her peace.”
A Personal and Political Decision
“I had to ask myself, ‘Why am I really going? What am I supporting by showing up?’” she shared during the episode. “And the honest answer was—I couldn’t justify it. Not to myself, not to my daughters, and not to the values I had tried to embody while serving as First Lady.”
Obama noted that the decision didn’t come easily, nor was it made in haste. Contrary to speculation at the time, she revealed that she made her mind up long before Inauguration Day. “I knew almost immediately after the 2016 election that I wasn’t going to be there,” she said. “It wasn’t out of spite. It was about integrity.”
The former first lady emphasized that she wasn’t interested in performative gestures or appearances for the sake of tradition. “Sometimes, decorum isn't enough,” she said. “Sometimes, it’s more powerful to step away.”
Living Life on Her Own Terms
Obama, now a best-selling author, speaker, and advocate, used her podcast platform to reflect more broadly on how she approaches life after the White House. “One of the hardest things to do when you’ve lived under a microscope is learning how to stop living for the expectations of others,” she explained. “You stop trying to ‘hover’ over the past. You stop trying to explain yourself to everyone.”
In IMO, Michelle Obama has consistently shared insights about motherhood, mental health, leadership, and public life. This episode, however, felt especially raw and unfiltered, offering listeners a glimpse into the emotional toll of political life and the boundaries she’s worked to establish since leaving Washington.
“I had to start living for me,” she said plainly. “Not for the cameras, not for the commentators, and not even for history books.”
The Weight of Representation
Though the Obamas famously upheld a message of hope and unity during their eight years in the White House, Michelle acknowledged that their exit was bittersweet. The 2016 election marked a dramatic shift in the tone and direction of American politics, and the former First Lady admitted feeling the weight of that change.
“There’s a pressure that comes with being ‘the first,’” she said. “And when that door starts to close, you wonder whether everything you stood for will be reversed overnight.”
Michelle Obama’s remarks come at a time when public trust in political institutions continues to erode, and when many Americans are re-evaluating the significance of political rituals. For her part, Obama hopes that others will feel empowered to question traditions that no longer serve them.
“Showing up is important—but so is knowing when to stay away,” she said.
Reception and Legacy
Since the podcast’s release, public response has been swift and overwhelmingly supportive. Fans praised Obama’s honesty and strength, calling her comments a powerful example of principled leadership. Political observers noted that while Michelle Obama continues to steer clear of day-to-day politics, her voice still holds significant influence.
In many ways, her decision to skip the 2017 inauguration — and to finally speak publicly about it now — illustrates the quiet, yet firm, way she exerts that influence. With grace, clarity, and conviction, she continues to model what leadership can look like when it is grounded in self-awareness and moral clarity.
As the episode closed, Obama left her audience with a final reflection that encapsulated her message: “History isn’t just about who shows up. It’s also about who chooses not to.”