Michelle Obama has addressed the backlash she received for not attending Donald Trump’s second inauguration, saying she has no regrets and is learning to prioritize her own well-being.

In a conversation with Taraji P. Henson on her podcast *IMO*, which she co-hosts with her brother Craig Robinson, the former First Lady explained how therapy has helped her get more comfortable with saying “no,” even when that decision is misunderstood.

She revealed that people immediately assumed something was wrong in her marriage when she chose not to attend events like the inauguration or former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, but those choices were simply about doing what was best for her mental and emotional health.

Michelle explained that she deliberately didn’t prepare an outfit for the inauguration to avoid being tempted to attend just to meet public expectations.

Taraji praised her honesty and pointed out that women are often expected to carry emotional burdens for others, which Michelle agreed with, adding that she’s working on modeling self-respect for her daughters, Malia and Sasha. Michelle emphasized that setting boundaries is not selfish but necessary, and that saying “no” doesn’t make the world stop. Her message is clear: women shouldn’t have to explain or justify putting themselves first — it’s a powerful and necessary act of self-care.