Former First Lady Michelle Obama's absence from President-elect Trump's inauguration marks her second non-attendance at a recent presidential event, following her absence from former President Jimmy Carter's funeral. While former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the inauguration alongside former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and their spouses, Michelle Obama will not be present.

The reason for Michelle Obama's absence from the inauguration remains unclear. This contrasts with the presence of numerous prominent figures at Carter's funeral, including former Presidents Trump, Bush, Clinton, and Obama, along with their spouses, Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, and former Vice President Mike Pence and his wife.

The inauguration will see the attendance of former Presidents Clinton and Bush, along with their spouses. This echoes past inaugurations, such as Trump's 2017 inauguration, which was attended by all three former presidents and their wives, including Hillary Clinton following her election loss to Trump. However, President-elect Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump did not attend President Biden's inauguration in 2021.

The news of Michelle Obama's absence follows Melania Trump's recent comments regarding the transition process between administrations. She expressed that the Obama administration withheld information during the 2017 transition, creating challenges for the incoming Trump administration. In contrast, she stated that she is well-prepared for this transition, possessing all necessary information and plans.

The inauguration festivities will include performances by Carrie Underwood, the Village People, and Lee Greenwood. Underwood will sing "America the Beautiful," accompanied by the Armed Forces Choir and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club. The Village People, known for their hits like "Y.M.C.A." and "Macho Man," will perform at an inaugural ball and a pre-inauguration rally. Opera singer Christopher Macchio is also scheduled to perform.