Former First Lady Michelle Obama is reportedly unhappy with the Biden family’s treatment of Kathleen Buhle, Hunter Biden’s ex-wife, according to sources cited by Axios. This discontent is said to be one of the reasons Michelle has refrained from actively campaigning for President Joe Biden’s re-election.
Michelle Obama and Kathleen Buhle became close friends during the Obama administration. Hunter Biden, in his memoir, detailed how the two women often worked out together and enjoyed evening cocktails at the White House. Their friendship has endured, with Michelle mentioning Buhle in her 2022 book, “The Light We Carry,” noting their regular morning walks by the river.
The relationship between the Obamas and the Bidens reportedly changed in 2015, a year marked by significant personal and political turmoil for the Biden family. Beau Biden, Joe Biden’s son, died of cancer, and Joe Biden was contemplating a presidential run, which then-President Barack Obama did not encourage. This period also saw the beginning of the end for Hunter Biden and Kathleen Buhle’s marriage, which culminated in a messy divorce in 2017.
Sources claim that Michelle Obama has privately expressed her belief that Buhle was wronged by the Biden family. Buhle’s divorce from Hunter was fraught with allegations of infidelity and substance abuse. Buhle testified at Hunter’s recent criminal trial, which resulted in three guilty verdicts for federal gun crimes, adding further drama to the Biden family’s public image.
Despite these tensions, Michelle Obama has not publicly connected her absence from Biden’s campaign to her friendship with Buhle. Her spokesperson, Crystal Carson, emphasized that Michelle supports Biden’s re-election and maintains friendships with both Buhle and the Bidens. “Two things can be true,” Carson stated.
The White House has also denied any rift between the families. Andrew Bates, deputy press secretary at the White House, asserted that the Obamas have been among the strongest supporters of President Biden’s leadership and agenda. He dismissed the claims of tension as coming from sources unfamiliar with the true nature of the relationship between the two families.
Michelle Obama’s reluctance to engage in partisan politics is another factor contributing to her limited involvement in Biden’s campaign. In 2018, she launched When We All Vote, a nonpartisan voter engagement organization, which has been the focus of much of her political energy. This distaste for partisan politics was evident even during the 2020 election cycle, where she initially hesitated to campaign for Biden but eventually participated through social media and a speech at the Democratic National Convention.
Barack Obama, on the other hand, has been more visibly supportive of Biden’s re-election efforts. He has attended fundraisers, appeared in campaign videos, and praised Biden in public statements. However, his solo appearances at these events have not gone unnoticed, fueling speculation about Michelle’s absence.
The Bidens and Obamas have shared moments of public camaraderie, such as Jill Biden attending the memorial service for Michelle Obama’s mother. These instances are often cited as evidence of the families’ continued closeness. However, behind the scenes, the dynamics appear more complicated.
In 2017, Barack Obama attended a fundraiser for the Beau Biden Foundation without Michelle. At the time, Hunter Biden was dating Beau’s widow, Hallie Biden, following his divorce from Buhle. After the event, Obama reportedly described the Biden family dynamics as “weird sh*t,” a remark his office later denied.
Hunter Biden’s memoir also sheds light on his complicated feelings towards the Obama White House. He resented having to quit his job as a lobbyist when his father became vice president, a move he felt was necessary to avoid negative optics. This resentment extended to how some Obama staffers treated his father, leading Hunter to distance himself from the White House.
Despite these underlying tensions, there have been discussions about increasing Michelle Obama’s involvement in Biden’s re-election campaign. One of her top aides recently met with a White House aide to explore ways she could contribute. There is precedent for Michelle getting involved later in the election cycle, as she did in 2020.
In summary, Michelle Obama’s reported unhappiness with the Biden family’s treatment of Kathleen Buhle, combined with her aversion to partisan politics, has contributed to her limited presence in Biden’s re-election campaign. While the Obamas and Bidens publicly maintain a facade of unity, the complexities of their relationship suggest a more nuanced reality.
Source: Axios, Business Insider, The Daily Beast
