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On the latest episode of her podcast, IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson, the former first lady shed light on her absence and dealing with post-White House burnout, alongside her cohost brother and special guest Taraji P. Henson.
Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Jan. 20, 2025. It’s tradition for former presidents and their families to attend, although it’s not mandatory. So, when former president Barack Obama made an appearance with his wife notably missing, people took notice.
His attendance also spawned a bunch of memes after images of him laughing with former presidents, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and former first ladies, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton, hit the internet.
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“My decision to skip the inauguration, 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,” Michelle said.
“People couldn’t believe that I was saying no for any other reason, that they had to assume that my marriage was falling apart, you know? It took everything in my power to not do the thing that was perceived as right, but do the thing that was right for me. That was a hard thing for me to do.”
An issue also arose when she realized she had nothing to wear to the event, which is partially what sparked her decision not to go. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Michelle, her closet is one to envy.
“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 perceived as right, but do the things that was right for me — that was a hard thing for me to do.”
The 61-year-old mother of two continued to open up about the stress and pressure she was under while in the White House. She felt the need to always do more, like her job was never complete.
“I’m at the stage in my life where I define my life on my terms, for the first time. So, what are those terms? And going to therapy to work all that out. Like what happened those eight years we were in the White House? What did that do to me internally…my soul?”
“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? And going through therapy is getting me to look at the fact that maybe I’m good enough, and unlearning some of those messages that I’ve been saying to myself, and then trying to actively practice something different to rewire those neurons in my head that make me keep pushing and keep striving.”
Part of that practice included teaching herself how to intentionally say no. I think a lot of people underestimate the power “no” holds and how hard it can be for some people to not only say it, but mean it. No is a full sentence and it doesn’t always need an explanation, so I’m happy Michelle was able to get to a place in her life where she can stand firm in her “no.”
