Barack Obama is making headlines once again — but this time, it’s not for politics. In a brutally honest moment, the former U.S. president opened up about the toll that years in the White House took on his marriage, admitting, “I was in a deep deficit with my wife.”
Speaking at Hamilton College during a candid conversation with President Steven Tepper, the 63-year-old didn’t hold back as he reflected on how the demands of his presidency strained his relationship with Michelle Obama. “So I have been trying to dig myself out of that hole by doing occasionally fun things,” he added, offering a rare and relatable glimpse into his efforts to repair that bond.
This isn’t the first time Barack has hinted at the challenges they’ve faced. In a 2023 interview, he acknowledged that life post-White House has allowed him to reconnect with Michelle in ways that weren’t possible during his time in office, praising her for being “forgiving” of his missteps.
Michelle, 61, has been equally transparent. In December 2022, she revealed that there was a decade — yes, a full ten years — when she “couldn’t stand” her husband while raising daughters Malia and Sasha. She emphasized that her honesty isn’t “being catty,” but simply real.
“Marriage isn’t 50/50 — ever, ever,” she explained. “There are times I’m 70, he’s 30. There are times he’s 60, [I’m] 40.” Despite the imbalance, she stressed that the difficult years are part of the deal: “I would take 10 bad years over 30.”
While rumors of trouble in paradise have swirled in recent months — sparked by Barack’s solo appearances at high-profile events and speculation about their time apart — insiders close to the Obamas insist they’re simply being authentic. “They don’t pretend that they have this Camelot relationship,” a source told Page Six. “They’re not trying to present that they’re this magical couple.”
Michelle, meanwhile, continues to reject online negativity, admitting she’s “fairly certain” she’s never even looked at a comment section. Her advice? “Don’t let that negative energy enter into your space… A lot of this stuff is made up, and it does not feed you.”
Their openness is resonating with fans who see the Obamas not as an untouchable power couple, but as two people working through the very real highs and lows of a decades-long marriage.
