Barack Obama was spotted celebrating inauguration weekend in Washington D.C., on Saturday night without wife Michelle Obama.
Sources spotted a jovial Barack at a dinner party at Stephen Starr’s latest Beltway hot spot, Osteria Mozza, on Saturday night sans the former First Lady, who we reported is skipping the inauguration.
We’re told the restaurant was gobsmacked when the cool former prez made his way through to a private dinner party upstairs.
And while we hear, “he was very nice,” a source added, “he didn’t stop and take photos with people.”
Barack joined a small group that included President Biden’s White House Chief of Staff, Jeff Zients, who arrived shortly after him.
A food editor for the Washington Post, Jessica Sidman, posted a pic social media of a smiling Obama through a window of the restaurant and added, “Barack Obama dined at Osteria Mozza tonight, where I hear he was greeted by applause before heading to a private dining room.”
Michelle, who turned 61 on Friday, did not attend with her husband. After weeks of speculation that perhaps the most famous marriage in politics was in trouble, Barack posted a fawning tribute to the “love of his life,” on Friday.
Michelle, however, is no stranger to the restaurant: Page Six reported she helped “christen” the “California-style Italian” eatery back in November, two weeks after it opened in DC’s Georgetown neighborhood.
Michelle hosted a 10-person holiday dinner for her team at the time, including makeup artist Carl Ray and hairstylist Yene Damtew.
A spy had overheard the restaurant’s staff telling Michele she was the first person to book their private room. “Well, let’s christen it!’” she responded, we reported.
Michelle is not quite as enthusiastic about Trump’s Washington, DC, weekend as her hubby.
The Office of Barack and Michelle Obama previously announced she would not be attending the inauguration — but did not provide an explanation.
A source familiar with Michelle’s circle told Page Six she simply can’t fake the funk!
“She’s never been fake and she’s never been phony. She’s always been very deliberate about where and how she shows up,” they said.
Meanwhile, Barack is expected to attend, as is Bill and Hillary Clinton, George W. and Laura Bush, and, of course, President Joe and Jill Biden.
A source also previously told The Post: “You cannot tell Michelle what to do — no one can… That’s why she could not be persuaded to stump for Joe Biden during the last election.”
Michelle has been “checked out” of DC life ever since the couple left the White House back in January 2017, according to a Beltway insider, and another source confirmed that Michelle is “mostly Martha’s Vineyard, never in DC.”
