Michelle Obama MOCKS Barack's presidential ambitions that brought her fame and fortune as divorce rumors continue to swirl

Daily Mail​

24-07-2025

Barack Obama served two terms as the President of the United States, but his wife Michelle has further fueled divorce rumors by belittling his ambitions.
The former first lady, who has been outspoken about her support for her husband's career now - admitted she'd previously questioned the lofty goal to become president that he ultimately ended up achieving.
The 61-year-old made the remark Wednesday on the latest episode of her podcast IMO, which she hosts with her brother Craig Robinson.
Michelle's jibe came after guest Victoria Monét talked about ambition and being embarrassed to share her dreams to become a singer.
Michelle agreed with the singer's admission, likening it to Barack's goals of a presidential run.
'It's like my husband,' she quipped. '"I want to be president of the United States"'
'It's like "no, you might want to keep that to yourself honey,"' Michelle said.
The former first lady's wisecrack will likely spark pushback, given it was Barack's hard work and ambition that made Michelle one of the most famous and beloved women in the world.
His successful presidential run also helped deposit tens of millions of dollars in the couple's joint bank account after they left the White House.
Upon entering office, the Obama's had an estimated net worth of $1.3 million. By the time Barack handed over the keys to Donald Trump in 2017, his fortune had reportedly skyrocketed to more than $12 million.
The couple have both released memoirs, signed a production deal with Netflix and are regularly engaged to participate in speaking events across the nation.
The barb comes as divorce rumors continue to swirl around the couple's 33-year-old marriage, which weathered an eight year stint in the White House between 2009 and 2017.
The mom-of-two also spoke about her own career ambitions and taking risks during the episode.
Michelle, who attended Harvard Law School before working for a prestigious Chicago law firm, spoke of her 'soul crushing' first job and why she never went back.
'When I came out of law school, I went into a big corporate firm because I went to Harvard and had a lot of debt and that's what you did,' she told Robinson and their guest Victoria Monet.
'I was there for two years, pretty miserable, not because of the place, but because the work was kind of soul crushing to me but I realized I hadn't tried anything else,' she explained.
'And I left and started working in city government and public service and each job , while it paid less, it had me working with people,' the former first lady continued.
'So that year turned into two years, and from that job, you know, working for the deputy chief of staff to working and planning and development and before you know it I was away from law and I've never gone back.'
The Obamas met in 1988 when the future president took a job at a law firm in Chicago for the summer where Michelle was already working.
The couple have been married for almost 33 years and share daughters, Malia, 26, and Sasha, 24. Over the past few months they have faced ongoing rumors about their marriage status.
The rumor mill swirled after her decision to skip both Jimmy Carter's funeral and President Donald Trump's inauguration - with Michelle insisting they were decisions she made for herself.
Her absence at the high-profile political events stoked divorce rumors, as did President Obama's admission in April that he was in a 'deep deficit' with his wife.
Last week, the couple addressed the speculation that their relationship is on the rocks, When Barack appeared on his wife and brother-in-law's podcast.
The pair wasted no time in addressing the rumors of their separation, with Michelle joking that it was nice to be in the same room as her husband, sassily telling her brother: 'When we aren't, folks think we're divorced.'
In May, Michelle set the record straight during a podcast with entrepreneur and investor Steven Bartlett following speculation over the former first couple's recent public appearances
'If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it,' she told the host, laughing.
She added that she's 'not a martyr' and joked about how she would address such marital strife publicly.
Last week, Michelle made a frank admission about life at home with husband after spending months dodging divorce rumors.
The mom-of-two shared the insight about being an empty nester with a husband who is no longer serving as the President of the United States on Wednesday's episode of her podcast, IMO, which she hosts with older brother Craig Robinson.
'I mean at this stage in life for me, personally, is the first time I've been completely free,' the mother-of-two told guest Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
'There's been a release where every choice I make is not about my husband, not about his career, not about my family, not about what my kids need or where they're going, it's totally about me,' she admitted, quipping: 'This is when we start living ladies.'