The co-hosts of Fox News’s “Outnumbered” program discussed announcements by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and former first lady Michelle Obama last week that they would not be attending President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, offering various explanations for why the two women made their decisions.
“When you look at people who are not going, Nancy Pelosi is not going, we don’t know why…Michelle Obama not going. Again, we don’t know the exact rationale,” Kayleigh McEnany, a co-host and former press secretary during Trump’s first term, began.
“But, you know, when you look at this and you think about it, their decision not to go, however, is it a tone-deaf decision? Is it one in which you missed the 77 million Americans who show up and said, ‘this is our guy?’” she added.
“Yeah, I think it’s important to remember that Trump and Melania didn’t go to Biden’s inauguration,” Kaylee McGee White, editor of the Independent Women’s Forum, responded. “So I don’t think it’s necessary for political leaders to go to necessarily go to their rivals’ inauguration. However, they can’t use the weather as an excuse this time around.”
Continuing, White said, “I will say, I hope the Trump transition team makes an effort to have as many people inside the rotunda for the swearing-in as possible. I know a lot of people were looking forward to going to that. I am planning on bringing my dad.
“He was the first guy ever that I heard of in 2016 who told me as soon as Trump went down the escalator, ‘Donald Trump is going to win the White House.’ So I know he’s really looking forward to that moment as well,” White continued.
“You know, it’s not just Donald Trump’s moment. It’s the Trump voters’ moment as well that they get to see this return to the White House, and they get to see this agenda implemented, finally. I think it’s a really hopeful day and one everyone is looking forward to,” she added.
WATCH:
The former House Speaker declined an invitation to be present at the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump last week, ABC News reported.
Her office did not give a reason as to why she was not attending, but the 84-year-old did suffer a broken hip after a fall last month in Germany.
And while his wife isn’t going, former President Barack Obama is expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
“Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former First Lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration,” the brief statement from the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama said.
“A spokesperson for former President George W. Bush confirmed he and former First Lady Laura Bush are planning to be at the Capitol for the festivities. Michelle Obama also did not attend funeral services for Jimmy Carter last week, where all the living former presidents congregated. The other living first ladies were also in attendance,” CBS News reported.
Since 2008, Michelle Obama has been present at every inauguration, including Trump’s first in 2017, as she and her husband were departing the White House. She talked about her experience attending Trump’s inauguration in 2023.
“To sit on that stage and watch the opposite of what we represented on display, there was no diversity, there was no color on that stage,” Obama said. “There was no reflection of the broader sense of America. Many people took pictures of me and they’re like, you weren’t in a good mood. No, I was not.”
