Barack Obama Admits He’s “Making Amends” with Wife Michelle After Busy Period
During a talk with students at Hamilton College, former President Barack Obama humorously admitted that he has been trying to “dig himself out of a hole” with his wife, Michelle Obama.
He shared that he has spent most of his recent time working on the second half of his memoir, a project he jokingly described as writing “50 term papers that go on forever.” He added that he has tried to make it up to Michelle by spending time doing fun activities together after focusing so much on work.
His admission came as rumors about tension in the Obamas’ marriage continued to spread, especially after Barack Obama attended major events alone without Michelle by his side.
The relationshiop Obama and his wife
In a December 2022 episode of her podcast, Michelle Obama admitted that she “couldn’t stand” her husband Barack Obama for a full decade while their daughters — Malia and Sasha — were young.
She revealed that she wasn’t “being catty” in saying this, but rather speaking honestly about the ups and downs of marriage.
She said: “marriage isn’t 50/50 — ever, ever.”
She elaborated, saying, “There are times I’m 70, he’s 30. There are times he’s 60, [I’m] 40. But guess what? Ten years — we’ve been married 30 — I would take 10 bad years over 30. It’s just how you look at it.”
In another interview in April 2023, the former First Lady explained why she’s so open about her relationship.
Michelle also noticed that many young people give up on marriage too quickly when faced with normal challenges. “Marriage is hard,” she said, adding that the compromises involved “ain’t always fun.”
Michelle and Barack Obama, who tied the knot in October 1992, have recently faced speculation about the state of their marriage amid ongoing divorce rumors.
Obama Criticizes Trump’s Actions, Compares with His Own Administration
During the event, Obama openly expressed his shock at how former President Donald Trump managed to get away with many controversial actions.
He gave an example to the audience, saying: “Imagine if I had done any of this.” He mentioned actions like removing media outlets from the press pool or threatening law firms that supported people opposing the government — actions he believed no one would have accepted during his presidency.
Obama strongly argued that these behaviors directly violate the core values of American democracy, such as freedom of the press and the rule of law. He also accused the government of using intimidation tactics against universities and individuals who protest its policies.
Message to the Youth: Don’t Lose Hope, Change Takes Time
Obama took time to encourage students not to become discouraged by the persistent issues in society, such as inequality, racism, or political polarization.
“Don’t be disheartened because the world isn’t perfect,” he said. “We’re all human, and not always that smart—we’re basically chimps. But things are getting better.”
He advised young people to see others through a multi-dimensional lens, not just based on their opinions or one aspect of their identity. He concluded with a powerful reminder: “The most important office in our democracy isn’t the presidency—it’s the citizen. It’s you.”