Ms. Michelle Obama returned after a series of absentees that caused a stir at President Donald Trump's inauguration and President Jimmy Carter's funeral.
On the podcast of actress Sophia bush on April 9, Ms. Michelle Obama frankly shared: I am choosing to do good things for myself, no longer living according to the expectations or obligations that others assign me.
Ms. Michelle Obama's absence at President Jimmy Carter's funeral in January - where she will have to sit next to Donald Trump, and her failure to appear at some recent political events, have fueled speculation: Is the Trump family "cracked"?
But in the podcast, Ms. Michelle showed the opposite: I looked at my schedule - there was a very specific occasion, I was invited to participate, and I chose not to participate. Not for who, but for me. It's not something I 'have to' do, or something other people want me to do.
Ms. Michelle frankly mentioned the invisible pressure that women often carry: As women, it is difficult for us to say 'no', it is difficult for us to disappoint others. So when I choose what is good for me, people cannot understand it, to the point that they have to speculate that my husband and I are divorcing.
She also implicitly affirmed that not attending an event can simply be because... she does not want to, not a sign of a marriage tragedy.
Although she did not name her full name, Ms. Michelle seems to be implying that avoiding Mr. Trump was the main factor in the decision to be absent. She has previously been publicly critical of Trump.
However, as the former First Lady of President Barack Obama, Ms. Michelle is often bound by non-political rules at state events where she is expected to appear with former presidents and First Ladies, regardless of her personal views.
