Kevin O’Leary, famed Shark Tank investor and outspoken supporter of Donald Trump, criticized former First Lady Michelle Obama for her decision to skip President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. Speaking on Fox News’s Outnumbered, O’Leary condemned the move as a break from tradition that undermines the democratic values symbolized by the peaceful transfer of power, according to OK! Magazine.
“This tradition has gone on for over a hundred years. This is what presidents do—and their wives—on inauguration day,” O’Leary stated. O’Leary also compared Michelle Obama’s decision to Trump’s controversial choice to skip Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2020, labeling both as equally inappropriate.
“This is the holiest day of politics. It is the transition of power. You have to respect it,” O’Leary continued. However, he did not address Trump’s refusal to concede the 2020 election, alleged attempts to overturn the results, or the January 6 Capitol riots.
“I don’t like what she’s doing here. I’m against it. I think it’s wrong,” O’Leary added, emphasizing his disapproval of the former first lady’s decision. Framing the inauguration as a cornerstone of democracy, O’Leary argued that Michelle Obama’s absence sends a troubling signal to the world.
“It takes away from the institution of freedom and what the signal to the world is,” he said. “I say this over and over again. It’s not energy. It’s not technology. The number one export is the American Dream. That’s why people come here. This messes with that.”
However, sources close to Michelle Obama provided a different perspective, stating that her decision was deliberate and deeply personal. “She’s never been fake, and she’s never been phony. She’s always been very deliberate about where and how she shows up,” one insider shared.
Another source revealed that attending Trump’s inauguration would have required Michelle Obama to overlook her genuine feelings about the incoming president. “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 said, referencing the longstanding tension between the Obamas and Trump.
Michelle’s absence, the source concluded, was a statement in itself: “She doesn’t have to unify around [Trump]. She doesn’t have to say anything. Her absence speaks volumes.”