What Michelle Obama Is Up To While Missing Donald Trump’s Inauguration

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Michelle Obama to Miss President-Elect Donald Trump’s Inauguration

On the day of Donald Trump’s Presidential Inauguration, the former First Lady is not in Washington D.C. alongside her husband President Barack Obama as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris hand over the reins to Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.

Instead, Michelle is focused on commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which this year has fallen on the same days as the inauguration.

“Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service always inspires me,” the 61-year-old captioned her Jan. 20 post. “This #MLKDay, I hope you’ll join me and @WhenWeAllVote in honoring Dr. King’s life and legacy by getting involved in your community.”

She continued, “Whether you’re mentoring students at your local school or volunteering for a cause that matters to you, it all helps make a difference. Tell me how you’re giving back today in the comments.”

Accompanying her caption, Michelle shared a graphic of the late activist which included a quote reading, “The time is always right to do what is right.”

But that doesn’t mean Michelle missed the opportunity to honor the late president and his legacy. As the couple wrote in a joint statement following the former president’s death, “President Carter taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from this remarkable man.”

But while Michelle was absent from the Inauguration, a number of Donald’s family and advisors were by his side.

Of the Trump family, Donald was joined by wife Melania Trump, their son Barron Trump, his daughter Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos, as well as Donald’s sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.

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But while Michelle was absent from the Inauguration, a number of Donald’s family and advisors were by his side.

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A number of tech moguls were in attendance, including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, as were politicians such as New York City Mayor Eric Adams, former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush as well as former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

For more from the Inauguration, keep reading.

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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-elect 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.

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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.

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Usha Vance, Doug Emhoff, Kamala Harris & JD Vance

Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff were also on hand to welcome incoming VP JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance at the White House.

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Michael Boulous & Tiffany Trump

Pregnant Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos joined her father at the St. John's Church services.

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Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner

Former advisor Ivanka was joined at the services by husband Jared Kushner and their kids Arabella, Joseph and Theodore.

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Elon Musk

Trump pal Elon Musk took in the view as he arrived inside the Capitol Rotunda.

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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."

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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.

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George W. Bush, Laura Bush & Barack Obama

With wife Michelle Obama not attending, former president Barack Obama hung with the Bushes.

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Eric Adams

New York City mayor Eric Adams worked the room at the Capitol.

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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.

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Sundar Pichai & Elon Musk

Tech talk: Tesla CEO Musk socialized with Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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Tim Cook, Vivek Ramaswamy & Kristi Noem

Apple CEO Tim Cook posed alongside onetime presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and South Dakota governor Kristi Noem.

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Melania Trump & Donald Trump

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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