First lady Michelle Obama will attend Nancy Reagan’s funeral Friday without her husband.
The Washington Post reports rather than attending the funeral in California, President Obama will instead keep his commitment to speak at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.
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The Obamas released a joint statement about the former first lady after learning of her death Sunday, saying, "We remain grateful for Nancy Reagan's life, thankful for her guidance, and prayerful that she and her beloved husband are together again."
This isn't the first high-profile funeral President Obama skipped recently. The White House faced criticism after Obama failed to attend the funeral for former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia last month.
In recent years, sitting presidents generally have not attended first ladies' funerals.
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Former first ladies Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Rosalynn Carter are expected to attend Reagan's funeral.
She will continue to lie in repose at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Thursday and will be buried next to her husband.
This video includes clips from the White House and C-SPAN and images from Getty Images.
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