As guests arrived for Jimmy Carter’s funeral in Washington, many quickly wondered why Michelle Obama was not among them.
WASHINGTON — The death of Former President Jimmy Carter brought together a who’s-who of the top of American political life, with all five living U.S. presidents attending Carter’s funeral.
While all five presidents were in attendance, one dignitary was notably absent from the proceedings.
Michelle Obama, wife of 44th U.S. president Barack Obama, was not among those at the service in W ashington on Thursday.
Ahead of the funeral, CNN reported that the former first lady had a scheduling conflict and remained in Hawaii, where she had been on an “extended vacation.”
Asked why she was absent from Carter’s funeral, Michelle Obama’s office issued a statement on Thursday saying that her thoughts and prayers are with the late former president’s family but otherwise did not say where she was or explain her absence.
After news broke of Carter’s death in December, Barack Obama praised his commitment to public service in a joint Instagram post with Michelle.
“President Carter taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service,” the former president wrote. “Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from this remarkable man.”
Who was at Jimmy Carter’s funeral?
Former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are sitting in the second row, along with President-elect Donald Trump. Former first ladies Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Melania Trump are sitting alongside their respective husbands.
One row up, President Joe Biden sits with his wife Jill, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.
The dignitaries will gather again in Washington on Jan. 20 when Trump is sworn in for his second term in the White House. Michelle Obama’s spokesperson did not immediately say whether the former first lady would attend the inauguration.
