Photo Credit: Getty Images
Former President Barack Obama made a notable appearance at Washington DC's upscale Osteria Mozza on Saturday night, attending a private dinner without his wife Michelle amid growing public interest in the former first lady's decision to skip Donald Trump's upcoming inauguration.
The former president joined an intimate gathering that included President Biden's White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients in the restaurant's private dining area. According to restaurant sources, Obama was "very jovial" though maintaining privacy, declining photo opportunities with other patrons. Food editor Jessica Sidman captured the moment, sharing on social media that the former president "was greeted by applause before heading to a private dining room."
The dinner engagement comes at a particularly interesting time, as The Office of Barack and Michelle Obama recently announced the former first lady's planned absence from Trump's inauguration. "She's never been fake and she's never been phony. She's always been very deliberate about where and how she shows up," a source close to Michelle Obama's circle told Page Six.
While Barack Obama is expected to attend the inauguration alongside fellow former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Michelle Obama's absence aligns with what Beltway insiders describe as her general distance from Washington politics since leaving the White House in 2017. "She's mostly Martha's Vineyard, never in DC," one source noted.
Interestingly, Michelle Obama is familiar with Osteria Mozza, having hosted a 10-person holiday dinner for her team there in November, just weeks after the Georgetown establishment opened. During that visit, she reportedly christened the private dining room as its first guest.
The separate dining engagements come amid swirling speculation about the couple's relationship, though Barack Obama recently attempted to dispel such rumors with a heartfelt birthday tribute to Michelle, who turned 61 on Friday. "Happy birthday to the love of my life," he wrote on social media, sharing a photo of the couple dining together. "You fill every room with warmth, wisdom, humor, and grace – and you look good doing it."
While Barack maintains an active presence in political circles, Michelle's selective appearances reflect what sources describe as a deliberate choice to engage on her own terms, particularly in matters involving the current political landscape.
