Former First Lady Michelle Obama is finally opening up about why she didn’t attend Donald Trump’s inauguration. In the latest episode of her podcast, “IMO With Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson”, she chopped it up with none other than Taraji P. Henson — and got real about choosing peace over pressure.
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“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 shared on the April 23 episode. “People couldn’t believe that I was saying no for any other reason. They had to assume that my marriage was falling apart.”
Michelle’s comments aimed directly at the chatter that popped off online, especially the divorce rumors surrounding her and Barack Obama. She wasn’t having it.
“I’m here really trying to own my life and intentionally practice making the choice that was right for me, 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,” she added.
“No Dress, No Drama”: Michelle Obama Said She Had To Trick Herself
Michelle said one of the ways she avoided the pressure was by eliminating the option to attend altogether. She didn’t even have a dress picked out for the event — on purpose.
“It started with not having anything to wear,” she explained. “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,’ right? Because it’s so easy to just say ‘let me do the right thing.’”
And the right thing? According to Michelle, it’s no longer about appearances or protocol. It’s about doing what’s best for her mental health, which she’s been prioritizing ever since stepping away from the White House spotlight.
Michelle revealed that therapy played a big role in her decision-making process — and even kept her from attending former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral earlier this year.
Rebuilding Herself: Michelle Gets Candid About Therapy And Growth
It’s been a long road of unlearning, and Michelle didn’t shy away from admitting it. During the conversation, she reflected on her struggles with overworking and pushing herself too hard — a mindset she says many Black women are raised into.
“We made it through. We got out alive. I hope we made the country proud. My girls, thank God, are whole,” Michelle said. “But what happened to me? And going through therapy is getting me to look at the fact that maybe, maybe finally I’m good enough.”
The former First Lady is reclaiming her time and her peace. She told Henson she’s now actively practicing saying “no” — not just for herself, but to heal the parts of her that always felt like she had to keep going no matter what.
“It’s a muscle that you have to build,” she said. “And I think we suffered, because it’s almost like we started training late in life to build that muscle, right? I am just now starting to build it.”
The Bigger Message: Boundaries, Black Women, And Healing In Public
This podcast moment wasn’t just about the Trump inauguration — it was about setting boundaries and creating space for healing, especially for Black women in the spotlight. Michelle opened the door for others to realize that it’s okay to step back, even when the world expects you to step up.
