Former President Barack Obama attended Jimmy Carter’s state funeral on Thursday without his wife, Michelle Obama, although a spokeswoman for the former first lady said she sent her condolences to the Carter family.
Mrs. Obama didn’t attend the funeral but sent “her thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from the remarkable former president,” her spokeswoman, Crystal Carson, said in a statement.
A person familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly, said the former first lady was in Hawaii and had a scheduling conflict.
The other four living men who have served as president were at the funeral with their spouses. President Biden attended with his wife, Dr. Jill Biden; Bill Clinton with Hillary Rodham Clinton; George W. Bush with Laura Bush; and President-elect Donald J. Trump with Melania Trump.
Mrs. Obama attended the funeral of Mr. Carter’s wife, Rosalynn, in 2023, along with the rest of the living first ladies. Mr. Obama did not attend.
