Five living U.S. presidents and their spouses, along with Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, attended the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter on Thursday at the National Cathedral. However, former First Lady Michelle Obama was noticeably absent.
Sources close to former First Lady Obama attributed her absence to scheduling conflicts, placing her in Hawaii during the service. CNN's Jeff Zeleny, reporting on Thursday morning, quoted unnamed Obama advisors as saying she was still in Hawaii.
Despite the absence of Michelle Obama, other former and current first ladies, including Jill Biden, Melania Trump, Laura Bush, and Hillary Clinton, were present. Interestingly, President Biden and President Trump were observed engaging in conversation before the ceremony.
Carter's family expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support, with a spokesperson for the former first lady extending condolences in a statement.
This absence, while not a major disruption, adds a layer of curiosity to the proceedings of the funeral. Further details regarding former First Lady Obama's absence are still under investigation. The Independent continues to gather information and will report on any further developments.
