In a day marked by pageantry, respect, and civility, Inauguration Day had at least one moment of questionable body language that has set the internet ablaze with speculation.
At a post-inaugural luncheon, First Lady Michelle Obama found herself listening to a conversation between her husband and House Speaker John Boehner as she ate her meal. The president leaned back to say something to Speaker and then Boehner tapped the first lady on the shoulder as he responded. Whatever the response was, the First Lady did not appear impressed and rolled her eyes.
The blogger who originally caught the exchange titled it “Historical moments in shade throwing,” insinuating that the first lady was throwing shade, which is a slang phrase that means to show disrespect. Given the huge smile on the president’s face after the exchange, the reaction could just as easily have been a wife scoffing at whatever silly conversation her husband was having.
Moments later, President Obama joked that his wife and Republican colleague had come to a “meeting of the minds” and decided he should keep his remarks brief.
What do you think Michelle Obama was thinking during the eye roll? Tell us in the comments.
UPDATE: According to a report from the Hill, smoking might have been the topic that had the first lady rolling her eyes.
Larry Wenig, a lip-reading expert, tells “Inside Edition” that his analysis shows the Ohio Republican asked President Obama if he had a cigarette before the Monday luncheon… According to Wenig, Boehner was referring to Michelle when he quipped to the commander in chief, “Somebody won’t let you do it.”
Boehner’s spokesman told the Hill the lip-reader’s take was “not true.”
Morgan Whitaker