Michelle Obama Shuts Down Divorce Rumours: 'We're Never Going To...'

News18

04-05-2025

Last Updated:
Michelle Obama's absence during US President Donald Trump's second inauguration and the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter in January had fuelled divorce rumours.
Michelle Obama has finally shut down divorce rumours with former US President Barack Obama, during a recent podcast appearance on IMO (In My Opinion) with her brother Craig Robinson and host Steven Bartlett.
'If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it… Let me tell you, he (Robinson) would know it," said Michelle on the podcast. Her brother also joked that if the couple were having marital problems, he would be doing a podcast with Barack Obama.
Notably, the former First Lady was not present during US President Donald Trump's second inauguration and the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter in January, which fuelled divorce speculations.
'The beauty of my husband and our partnership is that neither one of us was ever really, ever going to quit at it, because that's not who we are," she further said. 'And I know that about him. He knows that about me."
She also said that marriage was hard both for her and her husband, but she would not trade her relationship with Barack Obama for anything in the world, calling him 'my person".
The former First Lady also gave out some valuable advice for young couples, highlighting their unrealistic expectations without realising the hard work that goes into the relationships. 'I talk about this because I think people quit on marriage too soon. There's friction built into the relationship. And if you're not talking about it, getting help, going to therapy, or figuring out how to keep growing together – it's easy to walk away," she said.
In an earlier episode of IMO featuring Robinson and Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P Henson, Michelle revealed why she had decided to skip Trump's second inaugural ceremony. 'My decision to skip the inauguration – or my decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me – were met with such ridicule and criticism," she said at the time.
'People couldn't believe that I was saying no for any other reason. They had to assume that my marriage was falling apart," she was quoted as saying by USA Today. 'I'm here really trying to own my life and intentionally practice making the choice that was right for me, and it took everything in my power to not do the thing that 'was right,' or was perceived as right, but do the things that was right for me."
However, she said her and Barack's personalities actually make them more compatible. 'I met Barack Obama, he showed up in my life as the opposite of a box checker, but somebody that I describe in my book as an 'ultimate swerver.' He did nothing by the book. He was brilliant and interesting."
Barack and Michelle, who met at a law firm in the late 1980s, married in 1992. Over the years, Michelle too has spoken candidly about their struggles. In a 2022 interview, she had said there were 'ten years where I couldn't stand my husband."
First Published:
May 04, 2025, 10:20 IST