Michelle Obama breaks silence on Trump's inauguration absence

For the first time, Michelle Obama has opened up about why she chose not to attend President Donald Trump's second inauguration — and it had nothing to do with rumours about her marriage.

On the April 23 episode of her podcast "IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson," the former First Lady had an honest conversation with her brother and guest, actress Taraji P. Henson, about making personal choices, saying no, and dealing with public criticism.

"My decision to skip the inauguration — or my decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me — were met with such ridicule and criticism," Michelle said. "People couldn't believe that I was saying no for any other reason. They had to assume that my marriage was falling apart."

CHOOSING HERSELF OVER EXPECTATIONS

Michelle stated that avoiding the inauguration wasn't about political or personal issues. Rather, it was one of those times when she chose to prioritise herself. She revealed that although the choice was tough, it was essential for her well-being.

"I'm here really trying to own my life and intentionally practice making the choice that was right for me," she explained. "It took everything in my power to not do the thing that ‘was right,’ or was perceived as right, but do the thing that was right for me."

She revealed that she had to "trick' herself into staying away from the ceremony — by not even having a dress ready.

"It started with not having anything to wear," Michelle said. "I was like, 'If I'm not going to do this thing, I got to tell my team, I don’t even want to have a dress ready,' right? Because it's so easy to just say 'let me do the right thing.'"

Michelle also missed the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter.

SAYING NO IS A SKILL SHE’S STILL LEARNING

Since leaving the White House, Michelle reports she is learning to cope with life differently. She credits therapy with being a big help in enabling her to make better choices and relinquish the need to always "do the right thing."

"We made it through. We got out alive. I hope we made the country proud. My girls, thank God, are whole," she shared. "But what happened to me? And going through therapy is getting me to look at the fact that maybe, maybe finally I'm good enough."

She added that learning to say "no" is like building a muscle — one that she only started developing later in life.

"It’s a muscle that you have to build," Michelle said. "And I think we suffered, because it’s almost like we started training late in life to build that muscle, right? I am just now starting to build it."

This year, the ex-first lady has come out as outspoken. She recently squashed rumors that she and her husband are going towards divorce in an early April interview with Sophia Bush.

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