Barack Obama has again addressed persistent speculation about his marriage to Michelle Obama, admitting publicly that their relationship endured significant strain after his presidency but insisting the couple remains committed to one another.
Speaking onstage with historian David Olusoga at London's O2 Arena on Wednesday, the 64-year-old former president said, "I was digging myself out of the hole I found myself with Michelle. Now I'm at about level ground." His comments, made during a high-profile European speaking event, reignited rumors that the former first couple are on the verge of divorce - speculation that has swirled for months as the pair have been seen living largely separate lives.
The appearance followed months of public chatter about the couple's relationship, particularly after Barack attended former President Jimmy Carter's funeral alone and Michelle declined to attend President Donald Trump's second inauguration. Days later, Michelle used her podcast to push back on the idea that she and Barack were splitting. "There hasn't been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quitting on my man, and we've had some really hard times," she told listeners, adding that their three-decade partnership included both "a lot of fun times, a lot of adventures" and difficult periods that shaped her as a person.
Michelle, 61, has previously been candid about the challenges of marriage. "People think I'm being catty for saying this: it's like, there were 10 years where I couldn't stand my husband," she said in an earlier interview, explaining that marriage "isn't 50/50, ever," and that couples have to endure stretches where one partner carries more of the load.
Despite such admissions, she has affirmed her commitment to Barack, saying, "We've been married for 30 years, and we will be married forever. So, let's say we live long. It will be 50-plus years. And if 10 of those years were bad, you know, anybody would take those odds."
Still, rumors have persisted that the couple are quietly disentangling their shared $70 million fortune, which includes homes in Washington, D.C., Martha's Vineyard, and Chicago, as well as a stock portfolio reportedly valued at more than $25 million and lucrative media production deals. One insider claimed, "They want to have everything ironed out in advance. The last thing they want is an ugly fight with lots of nasty legal filings."
Another source suggested that Barack's continued interest in politics has strained their arrangement. "They'd already been living separate lives on opposite coasts for some time, but that was no longer an option after Michelle refused to run and Barack was forced to back Kamala [Harris]," the source said.
The former first lady has countered such speculation by framing her recent absences as personal choices unrelated to marital discord. On Sophia Bush's Work in Progress podcast, she said, "This couldn't be a grown woman just making a set of decisions for herself, right? But that's what society does to us. We start actually, finally going, 'What am I doing? Who am I doing this for?'"
The Obamas, married since 1992 and parents to two daughters, Malia, 26, and Sasha, 24, have often spoken about the pressures that public life placed on their family. Barack joked on Michelle's podcast earlier this year, "She took me back! It was touch and go for a while," a quip that sought to defuse the rumors while acknowledging their struggles.
