White House confirms reason Sasha Obama was absent at dad’s speech

The White House has confirmed the reason Sasha Obama was not present during her father's farewell speech as the leader of the free world this week. CBS News’ Mark Knoller tweeted on Wednesday that an official said outgoing US President Barack Obama’s youngest daughter had to take care of her exam in Washington on Wednesday morning.

Another Twitter user named Josie Duffy Rice shared a photo of midterm exam rules. It states that "absence for travel is not an adequate reason to reschedule an exam."

The rule also states that students must be punctual for the exam, which begins at 10AM. Based on the tweet, the school only allows students to take exams on make-up days if they missed it due to illness.

The 15-year-old is a sophomore at Sidwell Friends, a prestigious private school. Per Fox 31, a senior administration official had also confirmed that Sasha missed the speech due to her exam. It turned out that even the first daughter had to follow school rules.

Netizens utilise #wheressasha to express their concerns about her not showing up in Chicago on Tuesday evening. As for her older sister, Malia, she was teary-eyed during their father’s speech.

The 44th US president praised his daughters for becoming amazing young women under what he described as “strangest circumstances.” “You are smart and you are beautiful but more importantly, you are kind and you are thoughtful — and you are full of passion. And bore the burden of years in the spotlight so easily,” he said.

Obama also praised his wife, Michelle, for making him and the country proud. “You took on a role you didn’t ask for and made it your own with grace and grit and style and good humour,” he said. Both Malia and Michelle received standing ovations and later joined the President on stage.