The REAL motive Michelle Obama is skipping Donald Trump’s inauguration and the way it may additional divide her from husband Barack

  • Follow along with DailyMail.com’s live updates on Jimmy Carter’s funeral

Michelle Obama is skipping Donald Trump‘s inauguration because she refuses to ‘be fake’ about her loyalties – in stark contrast to her husband’s recent efforts to ‘unify.’ 

The former First Lady was noticeably absent from Jimmy Carter’s funeral, where Barack was seen laughing and cozying up to the incoming President.

Trump and Obama shared a warm interaction ahead of the service, having a whispered conversation with one another in a moment which set the internet alight.

‘It did look very friendly, I must say,’ Trump later said.

But according to a source who spoke to Page Six, Michelle has no such plans to smooth over her relationship with Trump – putting her at odds with her husband’s friendly efforts.

‘She’s never been fake and she’s never been phony. She’s always been very deliberate about where and how she shows up,’ the source said.

‘She showed up reluctantly for the election. They were united, but she doesn’t have to unify around [Trump]. She doesn’t have to say anything. 

‘Her absence speaks volumes.’

One of the most talked about moments was a clear moment of affection between Trump and Obama

Trump’s inauguration will take place on January 20. Pictured: Trump at his last inauguration in 2017 

Michelle has no such plans to smooth over her relationship with Trump – putting her at odds with her husband’s friendly efforts

On Wednesday, the office of Barack and Michelle Obama confirmed that Michelle would not be at the inauguration in a statement to the Associated Press.

‘Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration,’ the statement read.

Historically, this would be seen as a monumental snub given all former presidents and first ladies have attended inauguration – even for the president of the opposite party – unless they were suffering from health issues. 

But Trump himself blew up that modern precedent four years ago when he refused to attend the swearing-in ceremony of his successor, President Joe Biden. 

First lady Melania Trump also skipped Biden’s inauguration. 

When she missed Carter’s funeral, it was immediately cleared up that she had a ‘scheduling conflict’ which prevented her from attending. She was enjoying an extended holiday in Hawaii at the time.

But on this occasion, her office has made no such effort to explain away her absense. 

At the funeral, Trump sat side by side with Obama, and later revealed they get along despite their differences and their past attacks on one another.

‘Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration,’ the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama told the outlet

Michelle Obama was the only spouse absent during President Jimmy Carter’s funeral on Thursday. President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, former President Bill Clinton, former first lady Hillary Clinton, former President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush, former President Barack Obama, former President and President-elect Donald Trump, former first lady Melania Trump, former Vice President Al Gore, former Vice President Mike Pence were all in attendance 

‘I didn’t realize how friendly it looked,’ Trump said.

‘I said, “Boy they look like two people who like each other” and we probably do. We have little different philosophies, right, but we probably do.’

The president-elect added, ‘I don´t know. We just got along. But I got along with just about everybody.’

It comes amid wild conspiracy theories that the Obamas are heading for a split.

The two huge non-appearances have some fans of the political power couple  concerned there’s trouble in paradise, with many taking to X to share their thoughts.

‘I’m calling it, the Obamas are getting a divorce,’ wrote one person.

Another posted: ‘An Obama divorce would not be on my 2025 predictions but it might happen.’

The couple, who first met in 1989 when they both worked at a law firm in Chicago, married in 1992.

The two have not shied away from sharing their struggles

When they first had children, the couple had some fights, as Barack would commute on a six-hour round trip to work at the Illinois Senate, and sometimes spend days away due to his job

They welcomed their first daughter, Malia, six years later in 1998, and their second daughter, Sasha, in 2001. 

But others noticed the former first lade has simply been less publicly engaged as she grieves the death of her mother, Marian Robinson, in May. 

When she spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August, she remarked that her grief almost kept her from coming onstage. 

‘I still feel her loss so profoundly – I wan’t even sure I’d be steady enough to stand before you tonight,’ she told the massive crowd at Chicago‘s United Center. 

Still she headlined several campaign events for Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, ahead of Election Day.