For someone who prides himself on being a “strongman,” Donald Trump has an awful lot in common with a dollar-store dictator.

He’s stuck in the role of a reality-TV villain, using the tools of the presidency like a vindictive HOA president who just found out his neighbor painted their mailbox the wrong shade of beige. And now, his latest stunt — threatening one of the most prestigious universities in the world because they didn’t kowtow to his demands — might just take the cake for pettiness. Meanwhile, Barack Obama, never one to miss an opportunity to point out Trump’s flaws (and let’s be honest, there are plenty), weighed in on the Harvard debacle with a scathing critique.

Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and… https://t.co/gAu9UUqgjF

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 15, 2025

Trump and his istration recently decided that Harvard University hadn’t been behaving itself. Apparently, the Ivy League giant had failed some arbitrary loyalty test, so Trump’s team issued a laundry list of demands disguised as a crusade against antisemitism. Combatting antisemitism is, of course, a noble and necessary goal — something that should be taken seriously. But Trump’s intentions were less about protecting Jewish students and more about exerting control over academic institutions that he’s never been able to stomach. His disdain for elite universities has been well documented, fueled by the perception that they are bastions of liberal thought — places where, God forbid, people might openly criticize his istration.

Trump’s istration wanted Harvard to report students who were “hostile to American values,” implement “viewpoint diversity” in its academic departments, and even hire government-approved auditors to rummage through programs that allegedly fostered antisemitic harassment. If that wasn’t Orwellian enough for you, they also demanded that faculty be investigated for plagiarism.

Harvard, to its credit, wasn’t having it. The university’s president, Alan Garber, issued a firm response, declaring that no government—regardless of who’s in power—has the right to dictate what a private university can teach, who they can it, or what they can research. So how did Trump respond? Predictably, like the aforementioned dollar-store dictator. Hours after Harvard’s defiance, his istration announced that they were freezing over $2 billion in federal funds for the university. That’s $2 billion meant for research, innovation, and education—money that ultimately benefits the country as a whole.

The Department of Education released a statement accusing the university of having an “entitlement mindset” and failing to protect Jewish students from harassment. This isn’t an isolated incident, either. His istration has gone after student visas, threatened funding for institutions that don’t comply with his policies, and even tried to ban diversity training on campuses. Harvard, with its $53 billion endowment, can perhaps weather this financial storm better than most institutions. But what about smaller institutions that can’t afford to lose federal funding? What about the chilling effect this kind of governmental overreach could have on academic freedom across the country? Those are the real stakes here.

The massive tariffs, based on incorrect data, that President Donald Trump imposed on various countries, including 34% tariff he has levied on China. In retaliation, China has imposed the same percentage as a tariff on U.S. imports. As a result of the tariffs and the sudden spike in trade tensions, the severely affected U.S. stock market experienced a major dip, painting a bleak future of recession.

So, Barack Obama would like to know if Republicans, who have kept mum throughout this whole fiasco, would have “tolerated” him if this — and every other action Trump has taken since assuming office — was his decision. If he had been the one to kickstart the destruction of the U.S. economy, if it was his rash actions that isolated America and severed ties with its closest allies.

While visiting Hamilton College in New York, Obama expressed how “deeply concerned” Trump’s recent decisions have left him as well as the worrying fact that the of the Republican Party have majorly knuckled under his orders — that range from threatening universities that allows protests, targeting its students for exercising their right to free speech, the new tariffs, etc — instead of questioning them.

“I don’t think what we just witnessed in of economic policy and tariffs is going to be good for America, but that’s a specific policy. I’m more deeply concerned with a federal government that threatens universities if they don’t give up students who are exercising their right to free speech.”

Trump recently targeted many prominent firms through executive orders terminating their contracts, government access, security clearance, and more. Why? Just because they are associated with his political adversaries and/or representing clients who openly oppose Trump’s policies. The same has happened with many media outlets where Trump has filed lawsuits against news organizations, started investigations of alleged bias by major networks like CBS, ABC, and NBC as well as barred The Associated Press from covering a number of White House because it refused to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.

While MAGA and Republicans always find a way to defend their leader’s actions, even the ones that don’t make sense or ones that are proving to be particularly debilitating for America and its people, would they have had a similar reaction if Obama was president?

“Imagine if I had pulled Fox News’ credentials from the White House press corps. You’re laughing, but this is what’s happening. Imagine if I had said to law firms that were representing parties that were upset with policies my istration had initiated, that you will not be allowed into government buildings.

We will punish you economically for dissenting from the Affordable Care Act or the Iran deal. We will ferret out students who protest against my policies. It’s unimaginable that the same parties that are silent now would have tolerated behavior like that from me, or a whole bunch of my predecessors.”

The answer is a resounding “NO!” but again, Republicans are perfectly okay with following a convicted felon found liable of sexual abuse and defamation; the list of things they can and will tolerate from and for him is probably limitless.

Even though former president Joe Biden and his family had borne the brunt of the maligning fake gossip and accusations that never provided a solid base during the 2024 presidential elections, Barack Obama didn’t escape the chaos unscathed either. He openly ed Biden and then Kamala Harris, in return, he became the target of increasingly unsavory rumours of his marriage with Michelle Obama falling — rumors that he has now fuelled with an honest ission.

It all started when Michelle was not present on Barack’s side during some high-profile events, namely former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral and Donald Trump’s inauguration (though her open disdain for the man should have solved the mystery). Then came snaps of the former president dining alone in Washington, which was all gossip mags and wagging tongues needed to kickstart the rumor that the Obamas are headed for a divorce.

This was followed by baseless claims about the couple leading separate lives, given an alleged affair between Barack and Jennifer Aniston. Yep, according to tabloid and their refined sources, the two were very close and it was this closeness that irked Michelle. The topic picked so much steam that Aniston received major backlash online, pushing her to make it clear during her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that all the reports were “aboslutely untrue” and she has only met Barack once in her entire life.

But the divorce rumors persisted as influential MAGA commentators spread and amplified the rumors, like political commentator Meghan McCain, who claimed on her show Citizen McCain that “very serious journalists” have been telling her that the Obamas’ marriage is over. For the entirety of this circus, Barack paid no heed to the drama, and when he did decide to address the state of his marriage, he did it with his usual brand of honesty by sharing that he is in “a deep deficit with my wife.” 

Barack was attending Hamilton College President Steven Tepper, according to the Daily Beast, and shared how his back-to-back from 2009 to 2017 left him little time to dedicate to him marriage. He simply had way too many duties to be a doting husband and agreed that it tested his bond with Michelle, something he has also itted in past interviews.

“So I have been trying to dig myself out of that hole by doing occasionally fun things.”

But of course, the land of MAGA is teeming with followers who twist obviously positive revelations into negative garbage since they have been programmed to do it the other way around when it’s Donald Trump speaking. So, Obama’s comments have actually added fire to the flame.

He is such a liar! Also, it is fine if Obama wanted out. No one cares. Obama makes brutal ission about Michelle marriage as 'divorce' crisis deepens https://t.co/JJpi32LssP via https://t.co/TC8JgmuuSm

— IrishTea1 (@IrishTea1) April 5, 2025

No matter what the gossip mill suggests, the Obamas’ public interactions paint a strong relationship, like the affectionate posts they put up for each other on Valentine’s Day. Question for the MAGAs: When was the last time Melanie penned a loving post for her husband? Any thoughts on that?

Severance fans have long made their suggestions for who should appear on the sci-fi series, but even the most ambitious of fan-casts wouldn’t have Barack Obama as an option. Well, according to Severance director Ben Stiller, this presidential casting choice almost became a reality. The actor — who also serves as an executive producer on the Apple TV series — spoke of Obama’s potential involvement in Severance‘s currently-airing second season during a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Stiller was eyeing the former president for a voiceover role in the premiere episode, which would have seen him play an animated Lumon Industries building in a training video shown to the severed employees. 

“I knew someone who knew his lawyer, and his lawyer said I can relay the request if you write an email,” Stiller said of his process in approaching Obama for the role. After sending the email, Stiller said he received a reply from the 44th president that was about as disheartening as anytime an Innie tries to escape Harmony Cobel. “‘Hey Ben, big fan of the show. Love season 1, can’t wait for season 2,’” Stiller relayed, “don’t think I have time in my schedule to make this happen.”

Of course, if anyone can use the excuse of a busy schedule, it’s the former president of the United States, but the Severance fan in me still laments what could’ve been a scene-stealing role. Who better to speak as an animated building than a man whose voice turns microphones into gold? Alas, it simply wasn’t meant to be, and eagle-eared fans will know that the voice role ultimately went to a person of equal caliber: Keanu Reeves. 

#Severance

Season 2 Episode 1

[SPOILERS]

Keanu Reeves voicing the Lumon building This was a cinematic masterpiece! But honestly, I’m not buying this whole situation, I think Lumon is lying about them being famous and the change in the company seems like smoking & mirrors. pic.twitter.com/5lNHOEyWQi

— Movie Files (@MovieFilesLive) January 17, 2025

Speaking of casting the John Wick star as the uncredited cameo, Severance creator Dan Erickson said last year that “we talked about a couple of different people for that role” (we now know who), adding that they wanted the voice “to be a very warm presence.” Warm, like a trained assassin with a dizzying number of movie kills? Or warm, like the loveable figurine Duke Caboom in Toy Story 4? I’m no showrunner, but I’m guessing it’s the latter. 

In any case, it wouldn’t be the first time Obama has lent his voice for the small screen. He recently turned umpteenth microphones into gold as the narrator of Netflix’s five-episode nature documentary series, Our Oceans. Watch out, David Attenborough, he’s coming for your bag! Elsewhere, Higher Ground Productions — the company created by Obama and his wife, Michelle — has been behind other titles like Leave the World Behind and Rustin. 

It goes without saying, but those projects are better than the ones the current president has starred in (ahem, The Celebrity Apprentice, ahem). Of course, Donald Trump almost reached Hollywood acclaim, at least vicariously, through Sebastian Stan’s Oscar-nominated portrayal of him in The Apprentice — but we’re guessing Obama likely would’ve secured Emmys gold had he appeared on Severance. 

In other Severance news, Stiller recently shot down rumors of on-set tensions between the show’s creators, while its main castmates — Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Zach Cherry, and John Turturro — appeared as part of a surprise pop-up in New York City ahead of the season two premiere. Needless to say, Obama wasn’t there.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama took to social media on Valentine’s Day to share a heartfelt message for her husband — paired with what appears to be a fresh, love-filled snapshot of the power couple.

In the caption, Michelle tagged her husband and lovingly wrote, “If there’s one person I can always count on, it’s you. You’re my rock. Always have been. Always will be. Happy Valentine’s Day, honey!” Barack shared the same photo on his social media, offering a loving tribute to their enduring bond by tagging Michelle and writing, “Thirty-two years together and you still take my breath away. Happy Valentine’s Day!”

The Valentine’s Day posts from the couple come amid speculations that they are heading for a divorce. The rumors started swirling about a month ago after former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral on Jan. 9, which Barack attended sans his wife. Over a week later, Michelle was also noticeably absent at President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, citing a conflict with her schedule. Furthermore, the two have rarely been seen together publicly. The rumors, fueled by gossip magazines, spiraled to the point of alleging that Barack was having an affair with Jennifer Aniston. The actress vehemently denied the claim through her rep, saying that she doesn’t have a “personal relationship” with Barack but she was “a fan.”

While some saw Michelle’s absence as a red flag, fueling rumors of marital trouble and an impending divorce, others defended the couple, pointing out that she could have had valid reasons for not being by Barack’s side — reasons that don’t automatically spell doom for their relationship.

If there’s one person I can always count on, it’s you, @BarackObama. You’re my rock. Always have been. Always will be. Happy Valentine’s Day, honey! pic.twitter.com/f099TnZHVY

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) February 14, 2025

Michelle and Barack met in 1988 when the latter was in law school. He had a summer job at a law firm where Michelle worked, and she became his advisor. “I being struck by how tall and beautiful she was,” Barack recalled. He said he asked her out several times, and Michelle, wanting to maintain a professional relationship, kept on turning him down. That was until Barack offered to quit his job. He then took her out for ice cream at Baskin-Robbins. Michelle and Barack were married on Oct. 3, 1992.

Throughout the years, the Obamas have shown a united front, with many sure that they are couple goals. In an appearance on the Jay Shetty Podcast in Jan. 2024, Michelle talked about her relationship with Barack and how they are far from perfect as a couple. “If you lived with your roommate for 30 years, you would hate them at some point in time,” she explained. However, she and Barack have learned how to navigate their relationship after being together for more than three decades. “That’s what sustaining a relationship is. It’s the choice to figure it out. Not to quit when it gets hard,” she explained.

The Obamas — who will be celebrating their 33rd wedding anniversary in October 2025 — have had their share of ups and downs, but their love and respect for each other have always prevailed, outshining any challenges they face along the way. They never shy away from praising each other, often saying they’re best friends and lifelong partners, always lifting each other with unwavering and iration.

The country is reeling after a midair collision between an American Airlines flight and an Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night. 60 engers and four crew were onboard the airliner and three military personnel on the helicopter when the airborne vehicles collided over the Potomac River near Washington D.C. The search continues; so far, nearly 30 bodies have been found, and authorities don’t expect to find any survivors. The harrowing incident comes just after a slew of executive orders targeting key government agencies from President Donald Trump.

Tragedies often lead to finger-pointing, and we always hope it won’t come from the highest office in the land, but just a few hours after the collision, Trump is already looking for someone to scapegoat. Rather than acting in a manner befitting his station, Trump took to Truth Social to all-caps scream about how he didn’t understand how something like this could happen and declare the situation, “NOT GOOD!!!”

We’re not saying there isn’t some truth to Trump’s doubt here, but raving lunatic looks bad on everyone — especially a man who’s spent his first days in office gutting every government agency that even bumped elbows with “woke.” This was Trump’s first test on acting presidential, and even some Republicans agree that he blew it. The starkly un-presidential qualities of America’s Commander-in-Chief were only amplified when former President Barack Obama weighed in the following day.

Taking to X.com early Thursday morning, Obama showed the class, comion, and courtesy we expect out of a president after a tragedy. Notice how there isn’t a single unnecessary capitalization or how there wasn’t any blame tossed in there?

X.com s washed his sentiment with praise for the comfort his words might bring to those families that lost a loved one in the crash. Of course, not everyone was pleased with Obama’s response. Some s lambasted the post as “useless” and “pointless,” criticized him for saying anything at all, for thanking first responders, or claimed that his lack of silence meant the collision was “an inside job.”

Of course, the post was awash with butt-hurt Republicans telling Obama not to “politicize” the incident, and we can’t help but callously wonder where these people are every time a school shooting happens — perhaps crushed under the hypocritical weight of their own “thoughts and prayers">

“I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”

It was certainly nice to read something with poise from the White House, but the surface-level sentiment seems empty after his initial blame-filled message.

In the wake of an accident, everyone is looking for someone to shoulder the blame. It’s the job of any good leader to stop the finger-pointing, absorb the criticism, and make moves to rectify the situation. Most world leaders could at least pretend to have even a modicum of decency while search efforts are still ongoing, but that’s never been Trump’s brand.

Donald Trump has only been in office for a few days, but those scant hours couldn’t feel heavier. His ers, his campaigning, and Trump himself repeatedly promised that Project 2025 was never going to be this istration’s agenda, yet here we are, 200 executive orders into the Handmaid’s Handbook. 

Among the mind-boggling number of EOs are several that would almost be funny if they didn’t come with repercussions like claiming certain minority groups don’t exist or turning back the clock on civil rights. But for the next 90 days, all Americans are being temporarily classified as female, so at least we’ve got that going for us (yaas!). Caitlyn Jenner ⏤ perhaps the most well-known trans woman in the world ⏤ couldn’t care less about her now-forcibly male status, by the way. With her wealth and privilege, she can probably pay almost anyone to respect her right to exist, but we’re guessing her wealthy buddies view her as “one of the good ones” anyway.

In addition to setting the blocks for his fascist foundation, one of the Copper Conman’s first orders of business was to pardon 1500 January 6ers. And would you believe it, not a single one was a part of Antifa or the BLM? The Qanon Shaman was one of the lucky thousand released, and you can bet your bottom dollar that he’s going to use his new freedom to turn over a new leaf. Just kidding! He’s doing exactly what you’d expect a brain-dead moron to do post-imprisonment, and hopefully it will land him right back in the slammer.

Joe Biden spent his last few hours in office doing the exact same thing, except his pardons were aimed at his family . It was a good call, considering Trump’s cronies are no longer trying to hide their unscrupulous connections. No matter how many Elon Musk stans crawl out of the woodwork blaming his clear Nazi salute on “autism,” we all know what that gesture means — except those who work for the ADL, that is. Oh, and Trump made an unfortunate flub connecting Musk to voter fraud in Pennsylvania, potentially implicating the tech mogul in an operation to flip votes.

There is one bright spot in the doom and gloom that is 2025 in America: George W. Bush and Barack Obama’s presidential friendship. The only thing that could make their inauguration moment more precious would be a Bush painting of it. Welcome to another week in the life, folks. It’s beginning to look a lot like Gilead.

We may know what Obama said to Bush at the inauguration, and it couldn’t be more relatable

In case you missed the biggest takeaway from Jimmy Carter’s funeral, Barack Obama and George W. Bush are the bipartisan besties we didn’t know we needed. Luckily for the Prez Pals, Trump’s inauguration gave them another chance to hang out, with one notable moment caught on camera once again showing them sharing a private joke.

Sadly, the rest of the world wasn’t privvy to whatever quip Barack made to Bush, but new insights might give us a better idea of what he said. A deaf TikToker put her lip-reading skills to good use when she offered her expert translation of what the bromancing POTUSes were whispering about. The quip that got such a laugh from Bush? Obama may have sarcastically asked, “How can we stop this from happening?“

We didn’t need any more reasons to miss Obama, but we got one nonetheless. At an event that was so devastating for millions of Americans, and at a time when the population has become so polarized, it’s heartening that two very different men such as Obama and Bush can find common ground and genuine camaraderie thanks to one shared opinion: their mutual unmitigated disgust for the mango man.

The Qanon Shaman, fresh off a pardon, screeches his continued instability for the world to hear

If you ever looked around and thought to yourself, “Gee, I wish there were more people who make terrible decisions wandering around,” Trump has got you covered. Following through on his promise to hand out pardons like candy, Trump doled out 1,500 of them to those convicted of January 6 crimes, and his followers could not be happier. Among the pardoned was none other than the Qanon Shaman, a man famous for painting his face and wearing animal skins on his head while parading shirtless around Capitol Hill. (Somewhere out there, Marjorie Taylor Greene just felt a giddy little shiver run up whatever’s left of her spine.)

Jacob Chansley’s extreme case of main character syndrome hasn’t taken a hit while behind bars, despite his mournful statements declaring, “Men of honor it when they’re wrong.” Now that he’s free, Chansley is using his god-given right to scream on social media incredibly seriously, taking to X to announce his intention to buy some “MOTHA FU*KIN GUNS.” Belaying any sense of normalcy, Chansley then jumped right off the deep end, adding, “J6ers are getting released & JUSTICE HAS COME… EVERYTHING done in the dark will come to light!”

Clearly Trump made the best decision when he decided to pardon these well-adjusted of society — unlike Biden’s own pardons made hours before he left office on Monday. In what some people likened to the Titanic’s captain dishing out a life raft for his own family while leaving the rest of us to drown, Biden preemptively pardoned his family for any nonviolent crimes committed during his last year in office. He didn’t stop there, however. He pardoned anyone he felt the Trump istration might go after, an expansive list that encomed of Congress, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and General Mark Milley.

There’s no doubt that Hunter Biden was targeted because of his familial connections, and Biden stated that his pardons were made under “exceptional circumstances” and that he could not “in good conscience do nothing” as retaliation loomed over them.

To get the rest of the political tea, which this week includes Trump’s Pennsylvania slip-up, Musk’s Nazi salute, and an accidental feminist flub, be sure to sign up for 
WGTC’s They Said What?! Newsletter.

If Republicans were mad that Michelle Obama didn’t go to Donald Trump’s inauguration, what do they think about Barack Obama and George W. Bush sharing a pleasant moment? Nevermind, I don’t really care what they think… but I do want to talk about what Obama told Bush.

Everyone was super curious about this brief conversation, especially since Bush laughed. Thankfully, lip reader Jackie Gonzalez, whose TikTok is @tismejackieg, figured it out and solved this mystery. She posted that Obama said, “Good to see you. Thank you. How can we stop what’s happening">YouGov August 2024 survey of 1,102 Americans, 53% were “somewhat likely” or “very likely” to cast a 2024 vote for Obama. His “favorability rating” was 57%. It’s tempting to view the past with rose-colored glasses and of course there were problems in the world from Obama’s time in office, which was 2009 to 2017. But life feels particularly rough right now for so many people, and seeing Obama smiling might not solve everything… or even a few things. But it does help even a tiny bit, and that counts, right?

As the U.S. prepares for the arrival of a second Donald Trump presidency, many recognizable figures in the political landscape are sending their final farewells to Joe Biden — who has served as president of the nation since 2021.

In the evening hours of last night, President Biden addressed the nation in a somber farewell, noting the country’s strong democracy while giving a much-deserved shoutout to his confidant, Kamala Harris. That being said, Biden simultaneously didn’t mince words in regards to the future of the U.S., warning the nation of an “oligarchy” which undoubtedly “threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.”

Before the final clock strikes and Trump and his billionaire cronies jump on their respective saddles and gallop into the White House like bandits in an abominable Western movie, a handful of familiar faces in Washington, D.C. have extended their own personal respect for President Biden, taking to X to commend the 46th Commander-in-Chief in all of his major successes as both a president and as a respectable human being.

Dark days might be approaching, but a multitude of seasoned politicians are doing their part to ensure that America, and all Americans, will ultimately be okay when the dust has settled. At least, that’s the silver lining of hope that we’ll be clinging onto during these next four years.

As for the salutes to Biden, however, up first was Barack Obama, a long-time friend, colleague, and political partner to Biden, as the two were mainstays in the White House together for two consecutive . Obama, being the pillar of positivity and a fierce leader as always, applauded his former VP’s boost on economy, insisting that Biden “drove what would become the world’s strongest recovery.”

In typical Obama fashion, he added a particular nod to the well-documented friendship between the duo, with many citing their collaboration as a bonafide “bromance” that has stood the test of time through the occasional misery and deceit that is often expected in D.C. politics.

Obama’s heartfelt statement was soon followed by Hillary Clinton, another friend to President Biden and a strongly competitive woman who once came close to handing a helping of defeat to Trump during the 2016 campaign. Clinton certainly kept her closing words about Biden relatively shorter, but her overall message was just as big — applauding Biden’s legacy and his ability to recover the nation during an economic crisis amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finally, Senator Bernie Sanders chimed in with his final thoughts on Biden’s political leadership, reiterating Biden’s farewell message in regards to the threats of freedoms and rights in this nation with Trump knocking on the door. “This is the defining issue of our time,” Sanders added in his statement, strongly indicating that the fight for a fair, equal, and respectable nation is definitely far from over.

As we salute President Biden for his courageous and fearless leadership, it’s also important to encourage a peaceful transition of power over to the Trump istration, which stands as an example of leadership set by Biden himself. So long, Joe, thank you for loving America, above all else.

For a party that mocks its rivals for being emotional snowflakes, the right sure is quick to whine about their aching feelings — especially when it involves Donald Trump. His ascension to supreme leader president is just days away, and as usual, the Senate is racing to approve his wildly underqualified cabinet picks. As Republicans force through the worst picks imaginable, like Pam Bondi and Pete Hegseth, they’re doing anything they can to distract Americans from the dog and pony show.

That mostly boils down to rage-filled finger-pointing, and this week the outrage is directed at none other than Michelle Obama. No, it’s not something she said or did; instead, it’s much more benign. The former first lady has declined the invitation to attend Trump’s inauguration, and MAGA Republicans can’t imagine anything more wantonly disrespectful.

Yes, that’s right, the people who plotted to overthrow the government are lecturing about decorum. Michelle Obama is skipping Trump’s impending inauguration, and Republicans are clutching their pearls. Even Donald Trump is of the opinion that he and the former president “probably do” get along after the late Jimmy Carter’s funeral in early January, another event she recently missed.

So why is Michelle Obama ruining decades of precedent just to snub the Orange Oligarch?

It’s simple, Trump’s been nothing but nasty to the Obama’s. He all but founded the birtherism movement — which questioned Obama’s eligibility to be president — and has never fully let the idea go. He weaponized it again against Kamala Harris, and anyone with two brain cells can see the correlation between the candidates gunning for “one of those Black jobs.” It’s got to be frustrating to have your husbands hard-won accomplishments questioned just because of his skin color, and Mrs. Obama has never let it go — nor should the rest of us.

Of course, his skill for insulting people is one of the things Republicans adore about Trump, so that alone isn’t reason enough for them. Rightwing talking heads like Jesse Waters have been all over social media, banging the drum of disrespect and mocking democrats for no longer responding with their 2016 slogan “when they go low, we go high.”

It’s impossible to take their faux outrage seriously. As the list of Democrats skipping the inauguration grows, an incredibly frustrating conversation is breaking out within republican circles online. Trump ers seem to view the snubs as somehow impeding the peaceful transfer of power, all while denying the Jan. 6 attack on the capital was an attempted insurrection.

In between the posts rejoicing in her decision not to attend the event were others falling back on the tired, unfunny jokes that Michelle Obama is actually a man, and of course, outrage over the Democrats’ fall from decorum. Toxic X s are bashing Obama left and right, but there is one major factor they’ve forgotten — Trump set this precedent in 2020 after he and his entire family skipped Joe Biden’s inauguration.

Of course they have a reason for why his refusal was actually valid. According to MAGA it’s “because the Democrat Party cheated.” As usual, Republicans are showing that it’s “rules for thee and not for me,” and no one is more exempt than Daddy Trump. Like many of us who voted against Trump, the loss is still a sore spot.

“She campaigned the hardest against him personally, of anyone,” one aide said. “She’s no hypocrite,” another ally added. “She meant every word she said on the campaign trail.”

As President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House is just days away, the buzz surrounding the former first family has reached a fever pitch. But while Trump is busy preparing for another stint as commander-in-chief, his wife, Melania Trump’s feelings about returning to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue appear more complicated. The former first lady has always been known for her reserved demeanor, but her latest interview has sparked a whirlwind of controversy, thanks to some choice words aimed squarely at the Obamas.

In an interview with Fox News just days before Trump’s inauguration, Melania seized the opportunity to take a swipe at former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. When host Ainsley Earhardt innocently asked her, “What is it like when you’re moving back into the White House? What’s different this time?” Melania seemingly responded in the most undiplomatic way.

“The difference is I know where I will be going,” she said before quickly steering into shadier territory. “The first time was challenging. We didn’t have much of the information. The information was… upheld for us from [the] previous istration. But this time, I have everything!”

It’s not clear where this sudden animosity came from, but accusing the Obamas of withholding pertinent information during the Trumps’ first transition into the White House is wild, considering that she declined outgoing First Lady Jill Biden’s invite to a tea party for the transition.

And so instead of earning sympathy for making it seem like she was the victim of the Obamas, Melania’s move to throw the former first family under the bus made her a target of online mockery. Social media s were quick to pounce on her remarks, especially her insinuation that the Obamas somehow sabotaged her plans.

“Melania Trump tries to throw shade at the Obamas on Fox & Friends for not telling her where all the rooms are in the White House and fails. Love how MAGA says she speaks so many languages yet she fails at basic English after being here nearly 30 years,” one quipped on X while sharing a clip of the interview.

Another sarcastically said, “I can’t help but wonder how the Obama istration hid rooms in the White House from poor Melania while she was LIVING THERE.” Meanwhile, someone else added, “And I’m sure there was no White House staff available to give her the tour… I mean, not like they lived there and took care of every inch of the place. Geez, these people… shame on us for giving them the privilege a second time.”

Meanwhile, what made Melania’s new interview even more shocking is the fact that it surfaced just after her husband, Donald, seemingly had a blast talking to Barack at Jimmy Carter’s funeral. A video of the two politicians laughing while chatting has since gone viral. 

It is worth noting that Melania’s recent claim is far from the first time she’d publicly voiced her grievances about how they allegedly made her life difficult in the past. In her memoir, released last year, she devoted an entire section to the drama surrounding her White House move-in delay.

“It is customary for the incoming first family to start the moving process when the outgoing first family leaves for the holidays in December,” she wrote. However, according to Trump’s wife, her team faced unnecessary roadblocks because of the Obamas. “Sadly, our team did not receive the access we had requested to visit the White House residence in December. Despite reaching out to the Obamas’ team and requesting a convenient time for our visit, we did not receive a response for weeks.”

She also claimed that the information her team eventually received was riddled with errors, leaving her unable to begin the necessary renovations until she had already moved in. “Those three weeks would have been crucial for… starting preparations,” she lamented in her book.

Eight years later, Melania clearly hasn’t let go of those three lost weeks. Her latest comments suggest the memory of that rocky start remains fresh in her mind, even as she prepares to head back to Washington. Interestingly, despite her insistence that this transition will be smoother, reports claim Melania won’t be living in the nation’s capital full-time. Could this be her way of quietly distancing herself from White House life altogether?

Politicians, peers, and loved ones of Jimmy Carter gathered together on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, for the former president’s funeral. But one notable absence was felt during the unfortunate ceremony — and that would be Michelle Obama.

The 39th president of the U.S. sadly ed away a little over a week earlier, on the 29th of December, 2024, leaving a large hole in many of our hearts. No matter personal political preference, Carter was seen by many as a decent, humble man with an undeniable love for the country, while also etching his name in history as the longest-living president. As such, it makes perfect sense why all five living presidents — both current and former — attended the funeral service in Washington, D.C. today to pay their respects to one of the greatest men this nation has ever known.

Attendees at the funeral included president-elect Donald Trump and his wife, Melania; former president George W. Bush and his wife, Laura; President Joe Biden and his wife Jill; Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff; former president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary; former vice president Mike Pence and his wife Karen; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; and former president Barack Obama.

During the funeral, cameras captured an eye-catching moment between Obama and President-elect Trump, with both politicians seen chuckling together in a moment that has now gone viral on X and attracted mass attention. Despite the laughter shared between the two, netizens quickly noticed that Michelle was not seated beside her husband which, if you know anything about the beloved romance between the Obamas, is not a common occurrence. So, where exactly is Michelle and why wasn’t she in attendance for the funeral?

Michelle Obama’s absence, explained

As per CNN journalist Jeff Zeleny, Michelle experienced “scheduling conflicts” which prevented her from attending Carter’s funeral in person. “I’m told by her advisors that she has scheduling conflicts,” Zeleny stated before adding, “She’s still in Hawaii.”

Despite her absence, her husband released a public statement back on the 29th of December that stated their respective condolences and expressed their “thoughts and prayers” to the entire Carter family. Additionally, a spokesperson for Michelle released an official statement on the state funeral, expressing that “Mrs. Obama sends her thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from the remarkable former President.”

CNN subsequently reported that the scheduling conflicts were due to an “extended vacation” in Hawaii, which hardly comes as a surprise, seeing as Michelle herself has stated that the Obamas visit Barack’s family in Hawaii over the holiday season every year. And with Carter ing just two days shy of New Year’s Eve, it’s clear that Michelle and Barack were on their holiday vacation when they received the news. 

So while it’s unfortunate Michelle wasn’t able to make an appearance and pay her final respects to Jimmy Carter at his funeral, the respect and iration shared between the pair is obvious, and thankfully, the public is aware that Michelle is safe and sound in Hawaii.