Michelle Obama Skips Jimmy Carter's Funeral and Is 'Still in Hawaii' for Extended Holiday: Report

Mar. 15, 2025

Former first lady Michelle Obama, Former President Jimmy Carter discusses his cancer diagnosis.Photo:Joe Raedle/Getty; Jessica McGowan/Getty

Joe Raedle/Getty; Jessica McGowan/Getty

Michelle Obamawas not in attendance at PresidentJimmy Carter’s funeral on Thursday, Jan. 9, as the former first lady usually has for past presidents.“Former First Lady Michelle Obama is not in attendance at President Carter’s National Funeral Service,” her spokesperson Crystal Carson confirmed to PEOPLE on Thursday morning. “Mrs. Obama sends her thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from the remarkable former President.”CNN’sJeff Zelenyreports that the former first lady is “still in Hawaii on an extended holiday vacation,” saying her advisers credited the absence to a scheduling conflict.All five living presidents and the other first ladies were present at Carter’s funeral Thursday, includingBill ClintonandHillary Clinton;George W. BushandLaura Bush;Donald TrumpandMelania Trump; andJoe BidenandJill Biden. The group sat together, alongside former PresidentBarack Obama, who notably arrived alone.U.S. Military Body Bearers carry the casket bearing the remains of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter into the Washington National Cathedral for his state funeral on January 9, 2025 in Washington, DC.Saul Loeb-Pool/GettyMichelle, 60, has often sat near former President Bush, 78, at other public events in which all living presidents gather, such as funerals for high-profile U.S. politicians.The Democratic former first lady and the Republican former presidenthave made headlines for joking with one another during those occasionsand sharing a friendly, warm demeanor despite their political differences.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The former first lady sharesa tense relationshipwith President-elect Trump, however, who was seated next to Obama and where she would have likely been seated if the former first lady was present at Carter’s funeral.Former U.S. Vice Presidents Al Gore and Mike Pence, Karen Pence, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former U.S. President George W. Bush, Laura Bush, former U.S. President Barack Obama, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Melania Trump, U.S. President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff attend the state funeral for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral on January 09, 2025 in Washington, DC.Chip Somodevilla/GettyPEOPLE reported earlier Thursday that Trump, 78, did not stand to greet former President Obama, 63, when the former first and second families were all seated in the front rows. However, the two former presidents, who served back-to-back terms, appeared to latershare a lengthy conversation.Obama spent the 2024 presidential campaign speaking out against Trump while rallying for Vice PresidentKamala Harris, whodelivered a eulogyfor Carter on Tuesday while he lay in state inside the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building.Carter, who served as the 39th U.S. president from 1977 to 1981,died at the age of 100on Dec. 29. He was the longest living former president in U.S. history. His death comes roughly one year after his wife, former first ladyRosalynn Carter,died in November 2023.

Michelle Obamawas not in attendance at PresidentJimmy Carter’s funeral on Thursday, Jan. 9, as the former first lady usually has for past presidents.

“Former First Lady Michelle Obama is not in attendance at President Carter’s National Funeral Service,” her spokesperson Crystal Carson confirmed to PEOPLE on Thursday morning. “Mrs. Obama sends her thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from the remarkable former President.”

CNN’sJeff Zelenyreports that the former first lady is “still in Hawaii on an extended holiday vacation,” saying her advisers credited the absence to a scheduling conflict.

All five living presidents and the other first ladies were present at Carter’s funeral Thursday, includingBill ClintonandHillary Clinton;George W. BushandLaura Bush;Donald TrumpandMelania Trump; andJoe BidenandJill Biden. The group sat together, alongside former PresidentBarack Obama, who notably arrived alone.

U.S. Military Body Bearers carry the casket bearing the remains of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter into the Washington National Cathedral for his state funeral on January 9, 2025 in Washington, DC.Saul Loeb-Pool/Getty

Saul Loeb-Pool/Getty

Michelle, 60, has often sat near former President Bush, 78, at other public events in which all living presidents gather, such as funerals for high-profile U.S. politicians.

The Democratic former first lady and the Republican former presidenthave made headlines for joking with one another during those occasionsand sharing a friendly, warm demeanor despite their political differences.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The former first lady sharesa tense relationshipwith President-elect Trump, however, who was seated next to Obama and where she would have likely been seated if the former first lady was present at Carter’s funeral.

Former U.S. Vice Presidents Al Gore and Mike Pence, Karen Pence, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former U.S. President George W. Bush, Laura Bush, former U.S. President Barack Obama, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Melania Trump, U.S. President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff attend the state funeral for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral on January 09, 2025 in Washington, DC.Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Chip Somodevilla/Getty

PEOPLE reported earlier Thursday that Trump, 78, did not stand to greet former President Obama, 63, when the former first and second families were all seated in the front rows. However, the two former presidents, who served back-to-back terms, appeared to latershare a lengthy conversation.

Obama spent the 2024 presidential campaign speaking out against Trump while rallying for Vice PresidentKamala Harris, whodelivered a eulogyfor Carter on Tuesday while he lay in state inside the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building.

Carter, who served as the 39th U.S. president from 1977 to 1981,died at the age of 100on Dec. 29. He was the longest living former president in U.S. history. His death comes roughly one year after his wife, former first ladyRosalynn Carter,died in November 2023.

source: people.com