Michelle Obama has stayed away from campaigning for Joe Biden because of her private frustration with how her friend Kathleen Buhle was treated by her family during her messy divorce from Hunter Biden, a new report claims.
The former first lady, one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party, has not made any public statements about the 81-year-old president’s re-election bid.
Buhle and Hunter separated in 2017, and details of the divorce resurfaced when she testified at his recent federal gun trial in Delaware.
axios reported that Michelle told others that her friend had been wronged by the Biden family, who blamed Buhle for some of the lurid details of Hunter’s behavior that became public.
Michelle Obama is greeted by Senator Joe Biden on the steps of the Pepsi Center during the second day of the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 in Denver, Colorado.
White House spokesman Andrew Bates denied there was any rift.
He said: ‘The Biden and Obama families are like family to each other, and whoever made these claims about that relationship is not familiar with it.
“The former president and first lady have been two of the strongest supporters of President Biden’s leadership and agenda.”
Buhle accused Hunter of spending his family’s money on drugs, prostitutes and cheating while spiraling into crack addiction.
She and Michelle became close during the Obama administration, but the dynamic between the Obama and Biden families has changed since then, according to the report.
During Obama’s presidency, the two women worked out together at the gym and often had cocktails at the White House.
They still have a close bond that has reportedly caused friction between Michelle and the Bidens.
Michelle Obama attends the American Symphony New Orleans Premiere on December 7, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana
According to the report, former President Obama described the Biden family as “weird shit” following a fundraiser for the Beau Biden Foundation in 2017.
Michelle was initially reluctant to campaign for Joe in 2020, but was eventually convinced to take the plunge when Democrats told her the stakes were high if she missed out.
Now her husband has gone solo, appearing at multiple glitzy fundraisers with Joe.
Joe Biden with Michelle Obama on the steps of the Pepsi Center during the second day of the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 in Denver, Colorado.
A White House spokesman and a representative for Obama denied reports of a breakup.
Crystal Carson, a spokeswoman for Michelle Obama, said she is friends with both Kathleen and the Bidens.
‘Lady. Obama has already said that he supports the campaigns of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
‘She is friends with Kathleen and the Bidens. Two things can be true. On Monday, Dr. Biden graciously joined the family in celebrating the life of Mrs. Marian Robinson.’