Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s absence at the state funeral of former President Jimmy Carter on January 9, 2025, became a point of discussion. Notably, she chose to continue her vacation in Hawaii instead of attending the funeral, leading to widespread speculation.
It was especially noticeable given Donald Trump’s presence at the event. Mrs. Obama was the only living former first lady not present at the solemn ceremony held at Washington National Cathedral, where her husband sat next to Trump, his longtime political adversary.
Mrs. Obama’s decision to extend her Hawaiian vacation and the cited “scheduling conflicts” attracted significant attention on social media. It came just five years after her last tense meeting with Trump at the funeral of former President George H.W. Bush in 2018, where she shared an uncomfortable handshake with Trump, whom she had previously criticized in her memoir for spreading conspiracy theories about her husband.
A representative for Mrs. Obama issued a statement that did not elaborate on her absence, stating, “Mrs. Obama sends her thoughts and prayers to the Carter family and everyone who loved and learned from the remarkable former President.” There was no official explanation for her decision not to attend the funeral.
During CNN’s funeral coverage, Jeff Zeleny provided some insight, stating, “I’m told by her advisors that she has scheduling conflicts. She’s actually still in Hawaii for an extended holiday vacation.” It contrasts with the presence of all other former first ladies, including Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Melania Trump, who attended the historic event in Washington, DC.
Zeleny and Mrs. Obama’s office did not provide specific details regarding these conflicts or why they could not be rearranged for such a historically significant event. Mrs. Obama’s office did not provide additional comments when asked for further clarification about the scheduling conflicts.
The strained relationship between Mrs. Obama and Trump is well-known, fueled by his promotion of the “birther” conspiracy theory. In her memoir Becoming, she described his actions as “crazy and mean-spirited,” accusing him of endangering her family’s safety and pointing to “underlying bigotry and xenophobia.” Mrs. Obama made it clear that this was something she could “never forgive.”
Despite this, Barack Obama attended the funeral alone and was seated next to Trump, a moment that drew significant attention. The two were seen having a seemingly friendly conversation, with Obama smiling and laughing as Trump leaned in to speak with him.
The state funeral was a remarkable gathering of American leadership, including Jill Biden, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and all living former presidents. Such meetings are exceptionally rare and are generally reserved for presidential state funerals, which serve as moments of national unity transcending political differences.
Particular attention was drawn to the stark contrast between Mrs. Obama’s absence and her previous attendance at former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s funeral in November 2023. At that service, Mrs. Obama went to pay her respects, while Barack Obama did not attend, making her absence from Jimmy Carter’s funeral more noticeable.
Reactions to Mrs. Obama’s absence on social media were mixed. One social media user commented, “Incredibly disrespectful, and this would be 24-hour news if Melania did this,” while another supported her decision, writing, “Good for her!!!! Black women have clocked OUT, and I’m here for it!!!!”
The seating arrangements at Carter’s funeral drew attention, as they often do at presidential funerals, given their potential to create noteworthy moments. A memorable example occurred at George H.W. Bush’s funeral in 2018, where the Obamas sat between the Trumps and the Clintons, highlighting the unavoidable closeness of political rivals.
At Carter’s service, the front pews reflected a cross-section of American leadership. Current and former presidents, along with their spouses, were seated in a carefully arranged order. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris occupied the front row, followed by former leaders and international dignitaries. Amid this arrangement, the absence of Mrs. Obama, leaving an empty seat next to her husband, stood out prominently.