Michelle Obama Shuts Down Rumors About Her Marriage to Barack

Michelle Obama is setting the record straight after months of speculation about her relationship with former President Barack Obama.

Rumors started flying earlier this year when Barack attended former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral without Michelle. Things escalated when Michelle later confirmed she wouldn’t be at Donald Trump’s second inauguration — sparking buzz that the couple might be going through a rough patch.

But Michelle wants to make one thing clear: her absence from public events has nothing to do with marital problems.

Appearing on Sophia Bush’s Work in Progress podcast this week, the former First Lady explained that she’s simply choosing what’s right for her — and people shouldn’t read too much into it.

“When I say ‘no,’ most people get it,” she said. “But others can’t imagine that I might just be making choices for myself. Instead, they assume something’s wrong — like my husband and I are breaking up.”

Michelle also spoke about the pressure women face to meet societal expectations. “Society doesn’t always let women put themselves first. And when we make decisions that don’t fit the narrative people expect, they jump to conclusions.”

Her comments come shortly after Barack himself opened up about how the presidency impacted their relationship. While speaking at Hamilton College earlier this month, he admitted, “I was in a deep deficit with my wife. I’ve been trying to dig myself out by doing some fun things now and then.”

Michelle has long been honest about the work it takes to keep a marriage strong. In a 2023 interview with Revolt TV, she revealed that some years of their marriage were far from easy.

“There were 10 years where I just couldn’t stand him,” she said. “But I’d still take 10 hard years over giving up 30 good ones. It’s all about the bigger picture.”

She explained that much of the tension came from juggling family responsibilities — she was focused on raising their daughters while Barack was often consumed by his political career.

“That’s when resentment builds,” she said. “Too often, couples take that frustration out on each other instead of working through it.”

Despite the rumors, sources close to the Obamas say their relationship is solid. One insider told Page Six, “Michelle just didn’t want to attend the D.C. events. It’s not about their marriage. They’re honest about the fact that no marriage is perfect, and they’ve never tried to act like theirs is.”

Barack and Michelle, who’ve been married for more than 30 years, have consistently been open about the ups and downs of long-term commitment. Through it all, they continue to show that lasting love takes work — and honesty.

Michelle’s message is loud and clear: putting yourself first isn’t a red flag — it’s a sign of strength.