Former First Lady Michelle Obama's decision to forgo President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration has ignited a lively discussion on the daytime talk show "The View." Co-hosts Sunny Hostin and Joy Behar expressed their support for Obama's choice, while others offered differing perspectives.
Hostin applauded Obama's move, suggesting it was a fitting response to Trump's actions. Referencing Michelle Obama's famous quote, she offered a contrasting viewpoint, stating, "I think when they go low, you have to meet that energy and perhaps go even lower, become small like an ant and go to the earth’s crust."
A source close to the former first lady revealed to People Magazine that Obama's feelings about Trump played a significant role in her decision. The source emphasized Obama's authenticity, stating she avoids pretense for the sake of protocol.
Obama has been a vocal critic of Trump throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, culminating in a speech at the Democratic National Convention where she denounced what she termed his "ugly, misogynistic, racist lies." Despite his wife's absence, former President Barack Obama plans to attend the inauguration, along with former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and their spouses.
Hostin reiterated her support for Obama's decision, highlighting a clip from the DNC where Obama criticized Trump for attempting to instill fear. Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin expressed acceptance of Obama's absence, given her non-governmental status, but argued that political figures like Rep. Nancy Pelosi should attend to demonstrate the continuity of government. Co-host Sara Haines concurred, emphasizing the importance of setting a positive example and rising above political maneuvering.
Co-host Ana Navarro suggested that Pelosi's age and recent hip injury could justify her absence. Behar, however, questioned why more leaders weren't following Obama's lead, emphasizing the unusual circumstances surrounding Trump's inauguration as a convicted felon. Haines countered that attendance acknowledges the democratic process and the will of the American people who elected Trump.
