Michelle Obama was seen dining at a waterfront club on the Spanish island of Mallorca this week, accompanied by her daughters and longtime friends, as speculation surrounding the former first couple's marriage continues to circulate online. Former President Barack Obama was not present during the trip, prompting renewed chatter over their relationship status.
The former first lady, 61, wore a printed dress and oversized sunglasses as she lunched at The Lobster Club in Puerto Portals with daughters Malia, 26, and Sasha, 24, along with former U.S. Ambassador to Spain James Costos and Michael Smith, the Obamas' longtime interior designer and former White House decorator. Photos from the outing were obtained by the Daily Mail.
Smith and Costos have remained close to the Obama family since the administration years, often hosting them at their Rancho Mirage home in California. "When they were here, it occurred to me that more than 50 years ago JFK had stayed just down the road at Bing Crosby's home," Smith told Architectural Digest in 2017. "The President and Mrs. Obama basically woke up in the morning to the same view of the valley."
The Mallorca visit comes amid ongoing public scrutiny over Michelle and Barack Obama's marriage. The former first lady addressed the rumors directly during a May appearance on The Diary of a CEO podcast. "If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it," Michelle said, adding that Barack was "a tremendous father."
Marriage speculation intensified after Michelle was absent from several public events over the past year, including former President Jimmy Carter's funeral and Donald Trump's inauguration. However, she has continued to publicly express admiration for her husband and their family.
On a recent episode of her podcast Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast, she discussed the Obama family dynamic during the White House years. "Even when Barack was president, he left the job at the door whenever he talked to his daughters," she said.
Michelle also spoke candidly about her discomfort with the formalities surrounding her public persona during a guest appearance on Las Culturistas. "We cannot have a real conversation if you're saying, 'Mrs. Obama,' that's too many syllables," she said. "I am not that position. I am Michelle."
Matt Rogers, one of the show's hosts, recalled being corrected by the former first lady before the interview began. "Earlier I was like, 'Thank you so much, Mrs. Obama,' and you said, 'Michelle,'" to which she replied with a laugh, "I did say that."
As tabloid headlines question the couple's closeness, Michelle has continued to cite Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa as "couple mentors" to her and Barack. "You got two powerful people in you and Patti, your own powerhouses in your own right, and merging those lives together," she said in an episode of her podcast. "For all those reasons, you were the perfect person to be here to discuss this wonderful question."
Commentator Rob Shuter, writing on Substack, claimed the Obamas have sought counseling in recent years. "They love each other deeply, but marriage is work," Shuter said. "They're committed to doing that work - even now. Barack's always been comfortable with distance, and Michelle's always been about presence."
