It’s currently trouble in paradise for the Obamas. They haven’t had the fairytale marriage most people think of them as having.
And Michelle Obama just stabbed Barack in the back in a stunning tell-all.
Eight years after bidding farewell to the White House, Michelle Obama is still unpacking the challenges of trailing her husband, Barack, as he climbed to the pinnacle of American leadership. Now 61 and married to the former president since 1992, Michelle recently kicked off her new podcast,
In the premiere episode, which dropped on March 11, she didn’t hold back about her initial reluctance when Barack announced his presidential bid.
Her first reaction was “no way,” Michelle confessed during the debut, a sentiment she shared with Craig, 62, who now serves as executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. She credited her big brother as her anchor during those turbulent White House years, saying, “I couldn’t have gotten through eight years in the White House without my big brother.”
The timing of Michelle’s candid reflections raises eyebrows, especially as whispers about the state of her marriage to Barack swirl. The couple, rarely spotted together in recent months, has fueled curiosity about their relationship.
“Being married to the president of the United States [is a] thing that none of us kind of banked on,” she mused on the podcast. “We knew Barack was smart and ambitious, but, you know.”
Craig, it turns out, played a pivotal role in swaying her support for Barack’s campaign. “You talked me into supporting his run,” Michelle told him. “And he [Barack] was smart enough to know that he needed to come to you and sell you on the idea. Because I was definitely like, no, no way,” she added.
Michelle’s aversion to the political spotlight is no secret, but she also dished on more personal gripes—like Barack’s chronic lateness during their early days dating while working at the Chicago law firm Sidley Austin.
“Barack had to adjust to what ‘on time’ was,” she said, painting a vivid picture of her frustration. “You know, I’ve got this husband who, when it’s time to leave, he’s getting up and going to the bathroom. And I was like, dude, like three o’clock departure means you’ve done all that. It’s like, don’t start looking for your glasses, you know, at the three o’clock departure.” Still, she conceded, “he’s improved over 30 years of marriage.”
The episode wasn’t all about Barack. Craig opened up about his own divorce while the siblings reminisced about their South Side Chicago upbringing.
Meanwhile, in the podcast’s second episode, Michelle vented to guest Issa Rae about Barack’s shallow chats with his golf buddies—sessions that can stretch up to five hours.
“My husband is like, ‘what are you talking about all day?’” she said, noting that Barack “does not fully understand” the emotional depth of women’s friendships.
Since leaving the White House in 2017, Michelle has penned two nonfiction books and now hosts IMO, where she and Craig plan to dole out life advice drawn from their own journeys—no current events allowed.
Upcoming guests include Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer, and Tyler Perry, who also appeared on her earlier venture, The Michelle Obama Podcast.
Yet, the podcast launch coincides with persistent chatter about the Obamas’ marriage. Unsubstantiated rumors even linked Barack to Jennifer Aniston, prompting the Friends alum to clarify on Jimmy Kimmel Live that she’d only “met him once” and knew Michelle better.
Meanwhile, Barack’s solo outings—like dining alone in D.C. in January, where he earned a warm ovation, or attending a Clippers game last week—contrast with Michelle’s absence from high-profile events like Jimmy Carter’s funeral and Trump’s inauguration, both of which Barack attended.
Still, the couple offered a glimpse of unity with a Valentine’s Day selfie last month on X, where Michelle dubbed Barack “my rock.”
Whether that post quiets the speculation remains to be seen, but for now, Michelle’s podcast is keeping her voice front and center—spilling gossip on life with Barack, one episode at a time.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
