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Michelle Obama Breaks Silence on Barack Obama Divorce Rumors
For Michelle Obama, learning to say “no” has been a pivotal piece of her new chapter.
In fact, the former First Lady of the United States has been candid about her evolution following the end of her husband Barack Obama’s second term and the family’s exit from the White House. And part of her journey has been choosing to make decisions that are best for her—which is why Michelle was notably absent from President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.
“My decision to skip the inauguration—or my decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me—were met with such ridicule and criticism,” Michelle told brother Craig Robinson during the April 23 episode of their podcast IMO With Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson. “People couldn't believe that I was saying no for any other reason, that they had to assume that my marriage was falling apart.”
And indeed, while Michelle’s absence was met with divorce rumors—ones the 61-year-old was quick to dispel—she once again reiterated her choice was wholly made by and for herself.
“I'm here really trying to own my life and intentionally practice making the choice that was right for me,” she added. “And it took everything in my power to not do the thing that ‘was right,’ or was perceived as right, but do the things that was right for me.”
But while the Becoming author was confident in her decision, it was not an easy one. In fact, she admitted she had to “basically trick” herself into not going.
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“It started with not having anything to wear,” she explained. “Because I'm always prepared for any funeral, anything—I walk around with the right dress, I travel with clothes just in case something pops off. So, I was like, if I'm not going to do this thing, I got to tell my team, I don't even want to have a dress ready.”
Michelle—who shares daughters Malia Obama, 26, and Sasha Obama, 23, with the 44th President of the U.S.——also spoke further about the kind of self-evaluation she’s embarked on since leaving the White House, and why prioritizing herself has become so important.
“I'm at this stage in life where I have to define my life on my terms for the first time,” she said. “Like what happened that eight years that we were in the White House? What did that do to me internally, my soul?”
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She continued, “We made it through. We got out alive. I hope we made the country proud. My girls, thank God, are whole. But what happened to me?”
Michelle explained that in going to therapy to work through some of these questions, she’s also begun to unlearn some of the messages she’s been saying to herself.
“Going through therapy is getting me to look at the fact that maybe, finally, I'm good enough,” she continued. “Then trying to actively practice something different to rewire those neurons in my head that make me keep pushing and keep striving. And practicing ‘no’ in a very different way intentionally.”
For a closer look at who was at Trump’s inauguration in January, keep reading.
Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Barron Trump, Melania Trump & Donald Trump
Take them to church: Barron Trump joined mom Melania Trump (in a coat by American designer Adam Lippes) and his father, president Donald Trump for services at Washington, D.C.'s St. John's Church as part of the 2025 Inauguration Day festivities Jan. 20.
Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images
Ivanka Trump
Incoming first daughter Ivanka Trump also put on her Monday best for the church services.
Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Jill Biden, Joe Biden, Donald Trump & Melania Trump
"Welcome home," President Joe Biden said as he and First Lady Jill Biden greeted the Trumps at the White House.
Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images
Usha Vance, Doug Emhoff, Kamala Harris & JD Vance
Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff were also on hand to welcome VP JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance at the White House.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Michael Boulous & Tiffany Trump
Pregnant Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos joined her father at the St. John's Church services.
Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner
Former advisor Ivanka was joined at the services by husband Jared Kushner and their kids Arabella, Joseph and Theodore.
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Elon Musk
Trump pal Elon Musk took in the view as he arrived inside the Capitol Rotunda.
Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images
Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar & Donald Trump
Before delivering her speech, Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar led Biden and Trump out of the White House. "While we have major differences of opinions on policy and the like," she said of chairing the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, "I want to make sure this works,” Klobuchar said of the ceremony."
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush & Laura Bush
Among the former presidents and first ladies on hand: Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush and Laura Bush.
KENNY HOLSTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
George W. Bush, Laura Bush & Barack Obama
With wife Michelle Obama not attending, former president Barack Obama hung with the Bushes.
Saul Loeb/AFP/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Mike Pence
Trump's former vice president Mike Pence turned up solo for the ceremony.
Photo by Al Drago-Pool/Getty Images
Eric Adams
New York City mayor Eric Adams worked the room at the Capitol.
Photo by KEVIN LAMARQUE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Janet Jones & Wayne Gretzky
Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and his wife Janet Jones were among those who decided to take a shot at watching the inauguration.
Photo by CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Rupert Murdoch & Elena Zhukova
Former Fox Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch (joined by wife Elena Zhukova) was among the billionaire businesspeople in attendance.
SAUL LOEB/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Sundar Pichai & Elon Musk
Tech talk: Tesla CEO Musk socialized with Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
KENNY HOLSTON/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Robert F. Kennedy
Trump's pick for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy came to watch him get sworn in.
Photo by CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Mitch McConnell & Elaine Chao
Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell held tight to wife Elaine Chao.
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Jake Paul & Logan Paul
Influencer turned boxer Jake Paul was on hand with his brother, wrestler Logan Paul.
Saul Loeb-Pool/Getty Images
Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai & Elon Musk
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg joined Amazon exec Jeff Bezos, his fiancée Lauren Sanchez, Pichai and Musk on the dias at the Capitol.
Photo by Chip Somodevilla / POOL / AFP) (Photo by CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Eric Trump, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Barron Trump
Trump's youngest child—New York University student Barron—traveled to Washington, D.C. to watch him take the oath of office for the second time.
Photo by CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Christopher Macchio
Opera tenor Christopher Macchio was tapped to sing the National Anthem. "I was looking forward to seeing 100,000 people spread across the National Mall," he acknowledged to the Associated Press ahead of the events. "Unfortunately I won’t be getting that visual while I perform, but it’s still going to be such a tremendous honor."
SHAWN THEW/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Shou Zi Chew
Hours after TikTok went dark (and then restored service) in the United States, CEO Shou Zi Chew turned up at the inauguration.
SAUL LOEB/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Tim Cook, Vivek Ramaswamy & Kristi Noem
Apple CEO Tim Cook posed alongside onetime presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and South Dakota governor Kristi Noem.
Photo by SAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Melania Trump & Donald Trump
Photo by SAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
JD Vance, Usha Vance & Donald Trump
Just before noon, Vance took the oath of office to become vice president while wife Usha and daughter Mirabel looked on.
Photo by Julia Demaree Nikhinson - Pool/Getty Images
Rudy Giuliani
Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani captured the festivities.
SAUL LOEB/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Donald Trump
Minutes after Vance was sworn in, Trump took his oath of office for the second time.
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Bernie Sanders
What, no mittens? Vermont senator Bernie Sanders ditched the outerwear for the festitivites inside the Capitol.
SAUL LOEB / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
Carrie Underwood
After technical difficulties forced her to perform a capella, American Idol's season four winner Carrie Underwood blew the crowd away with her rendition of "America the Beautiful".
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