Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Trump’s Name Appears on U.S. Institute of Peace Ahead of Rwanda–Congo Deal Signing 
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds 
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results 
Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth Defends Controversial Second Strike on Suspected Drug-Smuggling Vessel 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
During Joe Biden’s inauguration, former president and first lady Barack and Michelle Obama caught the attention of many also because of their outfits. It is with that same reason that Mrs. Obama gave a shoutout to the kids that went viral for recreating their looks.
The former first lady shared the four viral photos on Twitter, heaping praise on the kids that recreated hers and the former president’s inauguration day looks. “Ryleigh & Zayden, you nailed it!” tweeted Michelle. Mrs. Obama’s plum-colored outfit, designed by Sergio Hudson, turned heads during the event and even among supporters that were watching the inauguration at home. The former first lady’s stylist Meredith Koop explained that the outfit was more about the person who was wearing it. “It is about her and what she means to you and to America,” wrote Koop in a post on Instagram.
The mini-FLOTUS is 4-year-old model Ryleigh Madison Hampton, who posed in an inauguration-themed mini-photo op with her best friend Zayden Lowe. Ryleigh’s aunt Zoe Hampton told The Hill that she never expected the photos would go viral and that the former first lady would give them a shoutout on Twitter as well. “We absolutely loved the Obamas’ look for the inauguration. We are so happy we were able to recreate such an iconic look and to have Michelle and Barack Obama be such great role models for Ryleigh and Zayden,” said Hampton.
Throughout her eight years as the first lady during her husband’s presidency, one of the most memorable moments was during the Obamas’ visit to Buckingham Palace, where she was seen breaking protocol by touching the Queen herself. But according to Whoopi Goldberg, the Queen likely did not want to forget the occasion and wrapped her arm around Michelle as well.
Speaking on the 2020 documentary “Michelle Obama: After the White House,” Goldberg said that the moment felt symbolic and that the Queen probably never thought she would see the moment when the US elected the first Black president. “...Every now and then something happens where she goes ‘I’m going to mark this occasion...and nobody will ever forget this’”
The former first lady talked about this moment in her memoir “Becoming,” where she and the monarch started a conversation about their clothes. Michelle shared that the Queen looked down at her shoes and asked her if they were unpleasant, both of them admitting to each other that their shoes were beginning to hurt their feet.
