Michelle Obama’s Reason For Not Attending Trump’s Inauguration is Shady in the Best Way

In her eight years in the White House, Michelle Obama was an ideal First Lady. She was always gracious and kind, even when she wasn’t shown that same grace in return. We’ll always remember her encouraging her fellow Americans to go high when others inevitably go low. But now that she’s a private citizen, Mrs. Obama is all about keeping it real, including doing her best to avoid any and all encounters with President-elect Donald Trump.

Mrs. Obama was a noticeable no-show at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral. Now, in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, an unnamed source said the former First Lady has no plans to attend President-elect Trump’s inauguration on January 20 because she won’t be able to hide her dislike for Trump and all that he represents.

“There’s no overstating her feelings about [Trump]. She’s not one to plaster on a pleasant face and pretend for protocol’s sake,” the source told PEOPLE. “Michelle doesn’t do anything because it’s expected or it’s protocol or it’s tradition.”

The source added that Mrs. Obama’s feelings towards Trump come from the years he’s spent attacking their family along with negative comments he’s made about people of color, something she touched on in her speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

“His limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hard-working, highly educated, successful people who happen to be Black,” she told the crowd in Chicago.

While Mrs. Obama has no plans to stop doing the work to help young women and girls through the Obama Foundation, the source says she’s ready to enjoy more time out of the spotlight.

“She served in the public eye and did all the public good that she could for eight years as first lady,” the source told PEOPLE. “You’ll see her when she has a project or cause to promote but she doesn’t feel the need to be a public figure anymore.”