Michelle Obama and Barack Obama’s Most Candid Confessions

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Michelle Obama might have expressed a preference for a life that was somewhat less scrutinized compared to Socrates’ assertion that an unreflected-upon life may not hold much value.

Though that wasn’t an option once Barack Obama was elected president.

Folks often inquire about Barack and I, wondering how we managed to stay optimistic, not just during our eight years in the White House, but long after as well? As I shared on my podcast ‘IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson’ at SXSW in March, let me clarify: there was indeed a great deal of negative energy directed towards us—much speculation, many whispers.

Avoiding the comment sections on social media helped Michelle stay composed, but by the end of her husband’s second term in 2017, she was eager to clarify things and set the facts straight.

And, not least, live her life as she saw fit.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it this way: Upon leaving the presidency, the previous first couple found themselves grappling with the need to uphold a specific standard of decorum, a challenge they continued to navigate in their post-White House life.

Barack, who celebrates his 64th birthday on August 4th, continues to carry a heavier load of responsibilities than his spouse, largely due to the ongoing expectations associated with his public life post-office. For example, certain funerals and inaugurations might be events he would find it difficult to skip.

Now, with a considerable space separating them from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the Obamas find themselves in a new phase of their lives, with whispers of divorce swirling around them much like gossip about any other famous couple. This recent chapter of their lives has become more and more enlightening.

Michelle noted during a recent episode of the Wild Card podcast in June, ‘I’ve reached a phase where every decision I make is solely mine.’ She went on to explain, ‘From now on, whatever path I choose is driven by my aspirations. Isn’t that something quite fresh?’

Read on for the Obamas’ most candid confessions:

It’s not that Barack Obama, a Harvard Law student at the time, didn’t have feelings for Michelle Robinson, who was his supervisor during his internship at her Chicago law firm in the summer of 1988. Instead, it’s more accurate to say that he developed romantic feelings for her while working together.

He just hadn’t thought about what came next all that much.

As a lifestyle advisor, I find that each person’s perspective on commitment is unique. For instance, in my life story, marriage was seen as a natural progression—an inevitable step for a relationship of serious intent, as I penned down in my memoir “A Promised Land” published in 2020. Conversely, having grown up with a mother whose marriages didn’t endure, the urge to formalize a relationship hasn’t always felt as urgent for me.

They tied the knot Oct. 3, 1992.

Although Michelle publicly backed Barack during his journey to the presidency in 2008, it’s worth noting that she was initially hesitant about her husband running for office at all.

He remembered his wife saying, “‘No, I don’t want you to run for president.’ And she asked, ‘God, Barack, when will it be enough?'” (from “A Promised Land”)

In the “Wild Card” podcast of June 2025 on National Public Radio (NPR), Michelle referred to their achievements as the “team ambition,” a term she somewhat reluctantly agreed with, expressing her feelings as if she were “arguably kicking and screaming.

In her 2018 memoir Becoming, Michelle expressed that she had confidence in her husband, yet there was a distressing notion she kept private, not yet willing to disclose: She stood behind him during his campaigning efforts, but simultaneously harbored the belief that he might not ultimately reach the end of the road.

In a conversation with Stephen Colbert in November 2020, the former president expressed that he had not fully escaped the consequences for his decision. Specifically, he regretted subjecting his family to a highly stressful and challenging period, as they had only recently experienced a tough Senate campaign before deciding to run for presidency.

He also mentioned that Michelle remained annoyed with him over the issue, and this anger would occasionally resurface, yet she maintained her resentment throughout the entire eight years.

Michelle admitted that her husband’s busy schedule, particularly after his entry into politics when he became a member of the Illinois state legislature in 1997, put significant strain on their marriage.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey for Elle magazine in 2018, Michelle shared that she often feels like she’s being blown around by the wind. With two children in tow, she’s struggling to keep everything under control while her husband is constantly traveling between Washington and Springfield.

Later on, she mentioned that there were “tasks we needed to accomplish together,” and added that it involved “working through these issues in therapy sessions.

In 2015, Lin-Manuel Miranda showcased a song from his yet-to-be-released blockbuster musical “Hamilton” at the White House. The president himself declared that the performance was so extraordinary, you had to hear it to believe it.

As a lifestyle expert, I must say, upon discovering that Lin was crafting a hip-hop musical around Alexander Hamilton, my initial thoughts were of polite encouragement, yet veiled with secret doubts. However, when he took the stage, began weaving his beats, and the crowd erupted in an uncontrollable frenzy, those skepticisms quickly vanished.

Following Donald Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, Michelle found it challenging to keep her composure, as she expressed in her book “Becoming.” Consequently, she decided not to endure such an emotional ordeal a second time.

One significant choice I made this year was to remain at home instead of attending funerals, inaugurations, and other events that were expected of me. This includes the state funeral for Jimmy Carter in January 2025, which I also chose not to attend. My decision sparked some discussion, but I stood by it, accepting any criticism that came my way. However, I never second-guessed my choice because ultimately, I felt it was the right one for me.

Michelle shared with Wild Card host Rachel Martin that her husband might find it morbid, but at the age of 61, she estimates she has around 25 more summer seasons left if she’s fortunate and truly blessed. She emphasized that without being mindful of time, as they’ve been away from work for a decade now.

Instead of wishing for time to pass quickly, she expressed her desire for the next ten years to move at a leisurely pace. She explained this sentiment because she cherishes life and her own existence… However, she fears that without careful consideration, those years might vanish too swiftly.

Michelle has chosen not to subject her daughters, Malia Obama and Sasha Obama, to the challenging journey of being in the public eye as part of a potential future administration.

She stated during a March 2025 episode of Kylie Kelce’s ‘Not Gonna Lie’ podcast that when asked if she would ever run, her response is always no. She explained that if someone asks her this question, they have no inkling of the sacrifices children make when their parents are in such a role.

Regarding the possibility, Michelle remarked, “Given how they’re now finding their footing, it’s not easy to imagine returning my daughters to the limelight. They’ve already paid their dues.

Michelle expressed her gratitude in June 2025 on the show IMO, saying, “I’m thankful I didn’t have a son, because he would have been just like Barack Obama, and that would have been too much for him.” When Angie Martinez asked why they didn’t try for baby No. 3, she jokingly replied, “Because he would have been a mini-Barack Obama. I couldn’t handle the pressure he would have felt.

Michelle jokingly commented on ‘Wild Card’, ‘It seems my absence from public dating scenes fuels speculation about the demise of my marriage, but just because we don’t share every moment on social media doesn’t mean we aren’t in our sixties.’

She also promised that she wouldn’t be demure about it if there was trouble in paradise.

In an April 2025 episode of the Diary of a CEO podcast, she disclosed, “If I were facing issues with my husband, it would be out in the open for everyone to see. He’d know about it too, and so would everyone else. I’m not one to suffer silently…I’d address the problems publicly and say, ‘Here’s what happened.’

In July 2025, Barack humorously alluded to the past rumors being put to rest when he said, “Since she forgave me, we’re good now.

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2025-08-04 17:18