Deaf TikToker Jackie Gonzalez (who posts using the handle @tismejackieg across platforms,) went viral with her latest lip reading videos in which she seemingly uncovered the joking question former President Barack Obama asked his predecessor George W. Bush Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday.
Gonzalez alleged that Obama greeted the crowd with a warm "Good to see you" as he took his seat at the inauguration, prompting a round of enthusiastic applause from the audience.
As the applause persisted, Obama turned to Bush with a serious expression and asked:
"How can we stop what's happening?"
The question caused Bush to break into laughter, as you can see in the video below.
Though Gonzalez shares a disclaimer on her pages noting that lip reading is “not a reliable form of communication” and “all statements are alleged," many couldn't help but wonder if Obama was referring to Trump’s second term—and loved his response.
Obama attended the inauguration without his wife, former First Lady Michelle Obama, who a spokesperson confirmed last week would not attend the event. The Obamas' statement did not provide an explanation for her absence.
This marks the second instance in two weeks where she has skipped a major public event attended by Trump. Earlier this month, she missed former President Jimmy Carter’s national funeral service, with her advisers citing a scheduling conflict. Had she attended, she would have been seated next to Trump, a situation avoided as her husband took her place alongside the incoming president.
The former first lady has previously expressed strong disapproval of Trump. During her speech at the Democratic National Convention last year, she delivered pointed criticism, accusing him of promoting “ugly, misogynistic, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions.”
Although she was not obligated to attend because she is not a politician, many conservatives complained about her absence, ignoring the fact that Trump himself shunned former President Joe Biden's inauguration.
