The US President’s youngest daughter Sasha Obama was noticeably absent at the close of yesterday’s highly moving farewell speech, delivered by outgoing president Barack Obama.
Near the end of his speech, the President made special mention of his family, and could be seen batting back tears as he thanked his wife Michelle for her tireless devotion during the eight years he was in office.
“Michelle Lavaughn Robinson, girl of the South Side – for the past 25 years, you have not only been my wife, the mother of my children, you have been my best friend,” Obama said.
“You took on a job you didn’t ask for, and you made it your own with grace and with grit and with style and good humour.”
While eldest daughter Malia was seen sitting next to her mum, wiping away tears, it wasn’t until the family joined the president on stage with Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Neilla, that Sasha’s absence was fully noticed.
Twitter immediately sprang into action and before long the hashtag #WhereIsSasha was trending.
Speculation was rife among users of the social media site with some posting hopefully that the Sasha’s no-show was a protest against the family impeding departure from their presidential home.
Other expressed their confusion as to why the President’s youngest daughter would miss such an important speech, especially as Obama spoke directly to his girls, honouring them for their achievements and their growth.
“Malia and Sasha, under the strangest of circumstances, you have become two amazing young women, smart and beautiful, but more importantly, kind and thoughtful and full of passion,” Obama said.
“You wore the burden of years in the spotlight so easily. Of all that I’ve done in my life, I’m most proud to be your dad.”
Sasha Obama didn’t attend her father’s farewell speech because she was studying for an exam the next day.
A White House official later confirmed Sasha had in fact missed the speech because she was studying for an exam she had the next morning.
It would seem Sasha’s commitment to her education is the strongest example of her great family’s dedication to achievement and excellence. What an inspiration!
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