Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have finally broken their silence on the months-long swirl of rumors speculating trouble in their marriage — and they did it with humor, honesty, and heart.
Appearing together on the latest episode of Michelle’s podcast IMO (In My Opinion), which she co-hosts with her brother Craig Robinson, the couple tackled the rumors head-on.
“Don’t make me cry now.” Barack and Michelle Obama address divorce rumors for the first time. pic.twitter.com/FpaooIqGyp
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) July 16, 2025
“The Rumor Mill” Gets Addressed
After Craig jokingly opened with “What, you guys like each other?”, Michelle leaned in with a smile:
“Oh yeah, the rumor mill.”
Barack then added:
“She took me back! It was touch and go for a while.”
The former First Lady followed up with a frank and passionate defense of their nearly 33-year marriage:
“There hasn’t been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quitting my man.”
“We’ve Had Some Really Hard Times”
Michelle got real about the ups and downs of married life, saying:
“We’ve had some really hard times. But also a lot of fun times, a lot of adventures — and I have become a better person because of the man I’m married to.”
Barack, visibly emotional, responded with:
“Don’t make me cry now.”
Rumors Sparked by Absences
Speculation about the Obamas’ relationship took off earlier this year after Michelle skipped both Jimmy Carter’s funeral and President Donald Trump’s second inauguration — appearances that former First Ladies are typically expected to attend.
Adding fuel to the fire, Barack made a curious comment in April while speaking at Hamilton College, saying:
“I was in a deep deficit with my wife… I’ve been trying to dig myself out of that hole.”
“If We Had Problems, You’d Know”
Michelle previously addressed the rumors in May during an interview with investor Steven Bartlett, joking:
“If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it.”
She laughed off the idea that their private life could stay hidden for long.
“It’s About Me Now”
In another recent IMO episode, Michelle reflected on entering a new chapter of life as an empty nester, with daughters Malia (26) and Sasha (24) grown and gone:
“This is the first time I’ve been completely free. Every choice I make is not about my husband, not about his career, not about my family — it’s totally about me.”
She joked to guest Julia Louis-Dreyfus:
“This is when we start living, ladies.”
Obama: “I Miss Most of the Gossip”
Barack admitted he was mostly unaware of the online drama:
“These are the kinds of things I just miss. Then somebody will mention it and I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’”