Image: Michelle Obama
Ola Akinwunmi
In a candid discussion on her podcast IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, former First Lady Michelle Obama revealed the deeply personal reasons behind her decision to skip President Donald Trump’s second inauguration earlier this year—a move that sparked both public debate and widespread speculation.
During the April 23 episode, co-hosted by her brother alongside special guest actress Taraji P. Henson, Obama addressed the intense scrutiny she faced over her decision. “My decision to skip the inauguration, you know, what people don’t realize, or my decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me, were met with such ridicule and criticism,” she noted. Despite the public’s surprise, Obama explained that the personal nature of her decision was not rooted in any marital discord. “People couldn’t believe that I was saying no for any other reason. They had to assume that my marriage was falling apart,” she continued.
Obama described her decision as an exercise in self-determination—an affirmation of living life by one’s own rules rather than succumbing to external expectations. “While I’m here really trying to own my life and intentionally practice making the choice that was right for me,” she said, highlighting the importance of prioritizing her own needs.
To truly commit to her decision, the former First Lady took deliberate steps to avoid any possibility of reversal. “It started with not having anything to wear. I had affirmatively… told my team, I don’t even want to have a dress ready,” she disclosed, emphasizing that the absence of a pre-planned outfit was symbolic of her determination to stand by her choice.
Beyond her immediate decision, Obama touched on the broader societal implications of her actions. She shared that her choice was also meant to serve as a powerful example for her daughters, Malia, 26, and Sasha, 23. “I want them to start practicing now the art of saying ‘no’,” she remarked.
According to Obama, establishing and maintaining boundaries is akin to building a muscle—an essential practice for personal growth and self-respect. “Because I see it in them — pleasing, excelling, not wanting to take anything for granted, always showing gratitude, feeling like they’re enough right now, right? It’s a practice. It’s a muscle that you have to build,” she explained.
This revelation follows earlier remarks made by Obama during an appearance on the Work in Progress podcast with Sophia Bush, where she discussed the unrealistic expectations often placed on women. “So much so that this year, people couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself, they had to assume that my husband and I were divorcing,” she recalled. Her observations mark a wider cultural challenge: the tendency for society to label self-affirming decisions as negative when they defy conventional expectations.
Michelle Obama’s unfiltered commentary not only demystifies her personal choices but also invites listeners to consider the importance of self-care and the courage to say “no.” By sharing her narrative, she challenges the societal pressures that often dictate personal lives, urging women—and indeed, all individuals—to prioritize their well-being without fear of judgment.
