Michelle Obama Explains That Look On Her Face During Trump's Inauguration

Former first lady Michelle Obama has revealed that she “stopped even trying to smile” during the 2017 inauguration of President Donald Trump in an interview with ABC that aired Sunday night.

Reading from her forthcoming memoir, Becoming, Obama said that the “vibrant diversity” of her husband’s two previous inaugurations “was gone” on the day Trump took office.

“Someone from Barack’s administration might have said that the optics were bad ― that what the public saw didn’t reflect the president’s reality or ideals,” she said. “But in this case, maybe it did. Realizing it, I made my own optic adjustment: I stopped even trying to smile.”

Obama also recounted the rage and fear that she had felt in the lead up to the Trump’s election, especially after the surfacing of the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape.

Writing in her book, the former first lady said that she had faith that when Americans went to the polls, they would understand “the true nature of what they were choosing between.”

"I stopped even trying to smile," Obama said. (Photo: Pool via Getty Images)
"I stopped even trying to smile," Obama said. (Photo: Pool via Getty Images)

“I implored people to focus and to think about what it takes to be the commander in chief,” she told the ABC’s Robin Roberts. “It’s amazing to me that we still have to tell people about the importance of voting ... People have to be educated, they have to be focused on the issues and they have to go to the polls if they want their politics to reflect their values.”

Watch Obama discuss how she felt during Trump’s inauguration in the clip above.

Also on HuffPost

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

Michelle Obama

First lady Michelle Obama hugs a woman in the audience after Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law a measure allowing military personnel and their spouses a quicker transfer of their professional licenses to Illinois during a military relocation, Tuesday, June 26, 2012, in Chicago.
First lady Michelle Obama hugs a woman in the audience after Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law a measure allowing military personnel and their spouses a quicker transfer of their professional licenses to Illinois during a military relocation, Tuesday, June 26, 2012, in Chicago.

Michelle Obama

First lady Michelle Obama greets supporters after a campaign event for her husband, President Barack Obama at the University of Central Florida, Tuesday, July 10, 2012, in Orlando, Fla.
First lady Michelle Obama greets supporters after a campaign event for her husband, President Barack Obama at the University of Central Florida, Tuesday, July 10, 2012, in Orlando, Fla.

Michelle Obama

First lady Michelle Obama speaks to supporters during a campaign event for her husband, President Barack Obama at the University of Central Florida, Tuesday, July 10, 2012, in Orlando, Fla.
First lady Michelle Obama speaks to supporters during a campaign event for her husband, President Barack Obama at the University of Central Florida, Tuesday, July 10, 2012, in Orlando, Fla.

Michelle Obama

First lady Michelle Obama participates in games during a children's fitness class at the Blanchard Park YMCA, Tuesday, July 10, 2012, in Orlando, Fla.
First lady Michelle Obama participates in games during a children's fitness class at the Blanchard Park YMCA, Tuesday, July 10, 2012, in Orlando, Fla.

Michelle Obama

First lady Michelle Obama, left, gets a hug from Savannah Southerland during a children's fitness class on a suprise visit to the Blanchard Park YMCA, Tuesday, July 10, 2012, in Orlando, Fla.
First lady Michelle Obama, left, gets a hug from Savannah Southerland during a children's fitness class on a suprise visit to the Blanchard Park YMCA, Tuesday, July 10, 2012, in Orlando, Fla.

Michelle Obama

First lady Michelle Obama gives the keynote address to the African Methodist Episcopal Church general conference, Thursday, June 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn.
First lady Michelle Obama gives the keynote address to the African Methodist Episcopal Church general conference, Thursday, June 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn.

Barack Obama

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrive at the Congressional picnic on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, June 27, 2012.
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrive at the Congressional picnic on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, June 27, 2012.

Michelle Obama

President Obama, with first lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks to an Independence Day picinic on the South Lawn of the White House on July 4, 2012, in Washington, D.C. On this Independence Day President Obama is hosting a 4th of July celebration picnic on the South Lawn for White House staff and US service members.
President Obama, with first lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks to an Independence Day picinic on the South Lawn of the White House on July 4, 2012, in Washington, D.C. On this Independence Day President Obama is hosting a 4th of July celebration picnic on the South Lawn for White House staff and US service members.

Michelle Obama

A supporter takes a picture of first lady Michelle Obama as she speaks to supporters and volunteers at the Barbara Goleman High School on July 10, 2012, in Miami Lakes, Florida. Obama spoke about what's she says is at stake in this years presidential election for Floridians.
A supporter takes a picture of first lady Michelle Obama as she speaks to supporters and volunteers at the Barbara Goleman High School on July 10, 2012, in Miami Lakes, Florida. Obama spoke about what's she says is at stake in this years presidential election for Floridians.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next