Former First Lady Michelle Obama He didn’t show up State funeral Thursday for the former president Jimmy Carter.
With the exception of Michelle Obama, all living former presidents and their spouses were present at the funeral, including… Barack Obamasitting in the front seats Washington National Cathedral Just behind the president Joe Biden And Vice President Kamala Harris And their spouses.
Michelle Obama’s office confirmed that she did not attend the funeral, but did not mention her whereabouts or the reason for her absence.
“Former First Lady Michelle Obama did not attend President Carter’s national funeral,” spokesperson Crystal Carson’s statement said. “Obama sends her thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and to all who loved and learned from the wonderful former president.”
CNN reported before the funeral that the former first lady had a scheduling conflict and remained in Hawaii, where she was taking an “extended vacation.”
State funerals for former presidents are among the few events that bring together the country’s most prominent leaders past and present, along with prominent figures from all branches of the U.S. government and representatives of foreign leaders.
It seemed that Barack Obama, a Democrat, was speaking cordially with his Republican successor. Donald Trump. So did former Democratic President Bill Clinton and his Republican successor, George W. Bush. Trump shook hands with his former Vice President, Mike Pence, who was a loyal ally until he refused to endorse Trump’s efforts to remain president after losing the 2020 election to Democratic Biden.
The dignitaries are scheduled to meet again in Washington on January 20 when Trump is sworn in for his second term in the White House. Michelle Obama’s spokesman did not immediately say whether the former first lady would attend the inauguration.