Barack and Michelle Obama skip Dick Cheney’s funeral amid renewed political scrutiny

WASHINGTON, DC: Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama were notably absent from the private funeral of former Vice President Dick Cheney, held on Thursday morning, November 20, 2025, at the National Cathedral.

Cheney, who died on November 3 at age 84, was honored by senior figures from both political parties, but the Obamas’ absence quickly reignited long-running speculation about Michelle Obama’s deliberate pullback from political life.

Barack and Michelle Obama absence reignites political speculation

According to People, the Obamas were expected to skip the funeral, though no official explanation was offered. A representative for the couple declined to comment when contacted by Page Six, maintaining their silence.

Michelle Obama’s absence drew particular attention given her continued distance from major political ceremonies in recent years. Earlier in the year, she did not attend former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, with CNN reporting she was on an extended trip to Hawaii at the time. She also skipped former President Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration, a decision insiders said was intentional and reflective of her personal boundaries.

A source told Page Six then, “She’s never been fake and she’s never been phony. She’s always been very deliberate about where and how she shows up.” Another insider added that Michelle Obama had largely “checked out” of Washington’s political orbit.

Michelle Obama reflects on stepping back from political life

Michelle Obama has recently spoken openly about choosing peace and privacy over public political duties. On her “IMO” podcast earlier this year, she revisited her reasons for declining to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration, saying, “It took everything in my power to not do the thing that was perceived as right, but do the thing that was right for me.”

She noted that many of her refusals have been misinterpreted, adding, “People couldn’t believe that I was saying no for any other reason. They had to assume that my marriage was falling apart,” a rumor she dismissed as baseless.

Now 61, she said she is embracing “the art of saying no,” explaining that she no longer feels obliged to prove her patriotism or maintain a political persona. “After all that I’ve done in this world… if I still have to show people that I love my country… all I’m doing is keeping that crazy bar that our mothers and grandmothers set for us,” she said.

Political leaders attend while Donald Trump and JD Vance remain absent

The funeral drew a broad roster of political attendees, including former President George W. Bush and former President Joe Biden, both accompanied by their spouses. Vice President Kamala Harris was also present.

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were absent, reportedly because they were not invited. Cheney, who endorsed the Democratic ticket in 2024, had distanced himself from Trump in his final years. Former President Bill Clinton also did not attend, citing a scheduling conflict.

Michelle Obama prioritizes family and private life

Michelle Obama has consistently said she has no desire to return to political life, emphasizing her wish for daughters Sasha, 24, and Malia, 27, to live outside the public glare.

Married to Barack Obama since 1992, she has reiterated that her focus now is on safeguarding her family’s privacy and maintaining her peace, even if it means skipping high-profile national gatherings.