Obama-Biden Rift? Michelle Allegedly Upset by Treatment of Hunter’s Ex
By Jake Beardslee ·
June 27, 2024
Former First Lady Michelle Obama's absence from President Biden's re-election campaign trail has raised eyebrows in political circles. Sources close to the situation reveal that family tensions and Mrs. Obama's aversion to partisan politics are key factors in her decision to stay on the sidelines, according to an exclusive report from Axios. Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
At the heart of the matter is the treatment of Kathleen Buhle, Michelle Obama's close friend and Hunter Biden's ex-wife, following her divorce from the president's son. Two sources familiar with the relationship told Axios that Mrs. Obama has privately expressed frustration over the Biden family's apparent exile of Buhle in the wake of the messy split. U.S. National Archives / Wikimedia
The roots of this tension can be traced back to 2015, a pivotal year that saw then-Vice President Biden contemplating a presidential run while dealing with the tragic loss of his son Beau to cancer. This period marked the beginning of tumultuous times for the Biden family, culminating in Hunter Biden and Kathleen Buhle's divorce in 2017. SUCHAT PEDERSON/DELAWARE NEWS JOURNAL / USA TODAY NETWORK
While former President Barack Obama has been actively supporting Biden's re-election efforts, attending fundraisers and appearing in campaign videos, Michelle Obama has maintained a noticeably low profile. Her focus has instead been on non-partisan voter registration efforts through her organization, When We All Vote. Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
The complexity of the Obama-Biden relationship was further highlighted by an incident in 2017. At a fundraiser for the Beau Biden Foundation in Wilmington, Delaware, Barack Obama reportedly described the Biden family dynamics as "weird sh*t" to a person familiar with his remarks, according to The Daily Beast. However, Obama's office later denied he made this comment. Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
Michelle Obama's friendship with Kathleen Buhle, which blossomed during the Obama administration, has reportedly deepened her sympathy for Buhle's situation. Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Despite these tensions, there have been moments of warmth between the families. This week, First Lady Jill Biden attended the memorial service for Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson. A spokesperson for Michelle Obama noted that Jill Biden "graciously" joined the memorial. Jasper Colt / USA TODAY NETWORK
Hunter Biden's memoir provides additional context, revealing his resentment towards the Obama White House for forcing him to quit his lobbying job and his frustration with Obama staffers who he felt undercut his father. Hunter wrote, "I didn't hang around the White House much; I didn't want to be in the position of walking into a barbecue on a Sunday with the president and the White House staff after reading about someone throwing my dad under the bus." Josh Morgan-USA TODAY
As the 2024 election approaches, the complex dynamics between these two prominent Democratic families continue to evolve, potentially impacting Biden's re-election campaign. Phil Roeder / Wikimedia
