When the cameras panned to the audience during Barack Obama’s final speech as President of the United States, plenty of people noticed one thing in particular.
Obama’s wife Michelle and elder daughter Malia were watching on, but there was no sign of Sasha, the younger of the two Obama sisters.
As soon as people noticed her absence, questions were asked.
The fact that I was about to tweet where is sasha and "where is sasha" is trending
— Tyrek (@iconicbesh) January 11, 2017
Everybody asking "where is Sasha" but if she was there ya'll would have been asking why she's there and its a school night #ObamaFarewell
— BIG DADDY? (@OmbiroJane) January 11, 2017
The whole time during the speech my mom was like where is sasha?! DO I LOOK LIKE I KNOW!!!! Why u care so much like enjoy obama
— Iggy izzy (@Peachypink_1d) January 11, 2017
Not to mention the speculation about what we’d see in the light of her absence.
Watch @realDonaldTrump become a "Where was Sasha Obama" truther for the next four years
— Ashwin (@ashwindeshmukh) January 11, 2017
However, as is often the case, there was a perfectly reasonable explanation for it all.
It’s exam season at Sasha’s school – Sidwell Friends School, where her sister was also a student – and the 15-year-old had to stay home and study.
Where was Sasha? WH Official says she stayed back in DC tonight because she has an exam at school tomorrow morning.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 11, 2017
There we go. Mystery solved.