Former First Lady Michelle Obama has privately voiced her frustration with the Biden family over their treatment of her close friend Kathleen Buhle, according to sources familiar with the situation. Buhle, who divorced Hunter Biden in 2017, faced significant ostracism from the Biden family, sparking tension between the Obamas and Bidens.
Strained Relations and Political Implications
According to an Axios report from June 28, 2024, these strained relations, along with Michelle Obama’s general disdain for partisan politics, partly explain why she hasn’t actively campaigned for President Biden’s re-election. Meanwhile, her husband, former President Barack Obama, has taken a more active role in the campaign.
The relationship between the Obamas and the Bidens began to sour in 2015 when then-Vice President Biden was considering a presidential run, a move President Obama did not support. That same year, the Biden family faced upheaval following the tragic death of Biden’s son, Beau, from cancer, leading to Hunter Biden and Buhle’s divorce in 2017.
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Michelle Obama’s Concerns
Sources indicate that Michelle Obama felt Buhle was unfairly treated by the Biden family, particularly given Hunter’s struggles with drug use and infidelity, which had publicly surfaced. Buhle, who became friends with Michelle during the Obama administration, was blamed by the Biden family for some of the scandalous details about Hunter.
Despite public displays of camaraderie, such as Jill Biden attending the memorial service for Michelle’s mother, Marian Robinson, and the Obamas participating in various public functions, the private strain remains. Barack Obama has participated in fundraisers and created promotional videos for Biden’s re-election campaign without Michelle by his side. Michelle has largely focused on her non-partisan voter registration group, When We All Vote, rather than engaging in Biden’s campaign.
“Weird Sh*t” Dynamics
In the fall of 2017, Barack Obama attended a fundraiser for the Beau Biden Foundation in Wilmington, Delaware, without Michelle. This event included much of the Biden family, including Hunter, who was then dating his late brother’s widow, Hallie Biden. Barack Obama privately described the dynamics at this event as “weird sh*t,” according to sources. Although Obama’s office later denied the comment, it highlights the underlying tensions.
Michelle Obama’s absence from the campaign trail is also tied to her general distaste for partisan politics. Barack Obama remarked at a Hollywood fundraiser for Biden that Michelle had instilled in their daughters a belief that entering politics would be “crazy.” Despite her initial reluctance, Michelle participated in the 2020 campaign, recognizing the high stakes. She engaged through When We All Vote, spoke at the Democratic National Convention, and supported Biden on social media.
Future Involvement Uncertain
Discussions about Michelle Obama possibly joining the campaign trail this year have been ongoing. Top aides from both camps, including White House aide Anita Dunn and Michelle Obama aide Melissa Winter, have discussed specific ways Michelle could be involved. However, a spokesperson for Michelle declined to comment on whether she would speak at the Democrats’ August convention in her hometown, Chicago.
Despite the family tensions, Michelle Obama’s friendship with Kathleen Buhle endures. Hunter Biden mentioned in his 2021 memoir that Michelle and Buhle had grown close during the Obama administration, often working out together and sharing evening cocktails at the White House. This friendship continued, with Buhle using Michelle’s publisher for her own memoir in 2022 and employing several of Michelle’s former communications aides for the book’s rollout.
The tensions between the Obamas and Bidens reveal a complex interplay of personal and political dynamics. While Barack Obama continues to support Biden’s re-election campaign, Michelle Obama’s frustrations and distaste for partisan politics keep her at a distance. This ongoing situation leaves many Americans on edge, curious about the future involvement of one of the nation’s most influential former First Ladies.
