Former First Lady Michelle Obama has not been vocal about her support for President Joe Biden’s reelection in recent months and sources close to her say it stems from "frustration" over the Biden family's treatment of Hunter Biden's ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, sources told Axios.
Buhle and Hunter Biden announced they were separating in July 2015 amid reports over the latter's drug addiction and apparent infidelity. That same year, Biden's son Beau died of cancer and Hunter began dating his widow, Hallie. Biden and Buhle, who share three children, finalized their divorce in 2017. This is the time the dynamics between the Obamas and Bidens changed.
A spokesperson for Michele Obama, Crystal Carson, assured Axios that she supports Biden’s re-election — despite her widely known distaste for partisan politics — and said “she is friends with Kathleen and with the Bidens. Two things can be true.”
Throughout this year, former President Barack Obama has willingly been expressing his support on social media and at fundraisers.
In the fall of 2017, Barack Obama attended a fundraiser in Wilmington, Delaware for the Beau Biden Foundation where Hunter was seen hand-in-hand with his brother’s widow — whom he allegedly cheated on Buhle with. Michelle did not attend alongside her husband and the former president privately described the Biden family dynamics at the fundraiser as “weird shit,” according to a person aware of his comments.
Meanwhile, the former first lady’s relationship with the outcast Buhle only blossomed since their early beginnings during the Obama administration. Michelle mentioned Buhle in her 2022 book, “The Light We Carry,” where she wrote: “My friend Kathleen and I keep regular morning dates to walk by the river.”
Michelle might still rise to the occasion with five months left on the campaign trail. Top White House aide Anita Dunn and Michelle Obama’s top aide, Melissa Winter, reportedly shared a lunch recently to discuss specific ways the Biden campaign can involve the former first lady.
