President Obama Not Attending Nancy Reagan’s Funeral

President Barack Obama has announced he will not be attending former First Lady Nancy Reagan’s funeral. Reagan passed away over the weekend at the age of 94 from congestive heart failure.

Instead of attending the funeral, the President will appear at the South by Southwest Conference (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, which focuses on interactive/technology, film, and music. Obama is scheduled to take part in the “keynote conversation,” where he’ll discuss how tech companies can help solve issues facing the world.

And while President Obama may not be attending Nancy Reagan’s funeral, current First Lady Michelle Obama will be in attendance.

It should be noted that it is not custom for a sitting president to be present at a former First Lady’s funeral, but it is standard for the First Lady to show up. As Heavy.com noted, President Obama also did not attend First Lady Betty Ford’s funeral in 2011.

President Obama has been vocal in his praise of Nancy Reagan in the past, and when hearing of her death, the Obamas released a statement saying, “We remain grateful for Nancy Reagan’s life, thankful for her guidance, and prayerful that she and her beloved husband are together again.”

President Obama also announced that White House flags, along with those at public buildings, government buildings, and military posts, will be flown at half-staff in honor of the former First Lady until sunset on the day of her funeral.

President Obama was already under attack for not attending Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s funeral last month, but this is nothing new. Obama and the Republicans are often in conflict lately, especially with Republicans threatening to stall any Supreme Court nominations until the next president takes office.