Over 100,000 searches on Google for 'where is Michelle Obama' after she skips Jimmy Carter's state funeral

In the US, state funerals for former presidents are among the limited events that bring the country’s most prominent leaders of past and present, along with dignitaries from all branches of the US government and representatives of foreign leaders, together in one place.

However, during former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral in Washington on Thursday (January 9), former first lady Michelle Obama was not in attendance.

Of all of the living former presidents and their spouses, she was the only one who wasn’t spotted at the funeral.

Her husband and former US president Barack Obama was sitting in the front pews of Washington National Cathedral, just behind President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and their spouses.

Google searches on Michelle Obama surge

Her absence seemed to have piqued the curiosity of thousands of people in the United States.

According to Google Trends data, the search volume for “where is Michelle Obama” was well over 100,000.

Related search terms, from simple ones like “Michelle Obama” and “Michelle Obama Carter funeral” to full sentences like “Why is Michelle Obama not at Carter funeral” had been trending since around 10:30 am (US local time).

Where was Michelle Obama during Jimmy Carter’s funeral?

Michelle’s office confirmed she did not attend the funeral. However, it did not say where she was or why she was absent.

“Former First Lady Michelle Obama is not in attendance at President Carter’s National Funeral Service,” according to the statement from spokesperson Crystal Carson. “Mrs. Obama sends her thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from the remarkable former President.”

CNN reported before the funeral that the former first lady was in Hawaii. Due to a scheduling conflict, she remained on the island, where she had reportedly been on an “extended vacation.”

With inputs from AP