Barack Obama has opened up about his marriage to Michelle Obama, offering a rare glimpse into their relationshipโand admitting heโs still trying to make up for lost time.
The former president, 63, appeared at Hamilton College in New York on Thursday (April 4), where he touched on everything from gun laws to Donald Trumpโs sweeping tariffs. But one of the most talked-about moments came when he candidly addressed his relationship with the former First Lady.
โI was in a deep deficit with my wife,โ Obama said during a conversation with College President Steven Tepper. โSo I have been trying to dig myself out of that hole by doing occasionally fun things.โ
The Obamas have been married since 1992 and spent eight years in the White House โ years thatย Barackย has previously admitted put a strain on their marriage. Over the years, online rumors have even swirled around their relationship, with some speculating about tension or divorceโclaims the couple has never confirmed.
Michelle Obamaย hasnโt shied away from discussing the ups and downs of their relationship either. On her podcast, she once revealed the one habit of Barackโs that drove her a little crazy: his relaxed attitude about time.
โBarack, you know, he had to adjust to what โon timeโ was for me,โ she said, poking fun at his Hawaiian roots. โBecause he was on that island time.โ
Michelle explained that her husband would often begin getting ready at the exact time they were supposed to leave.
โYou know, Iโve got this husband whoโs like, when itโs time to leaveโitโs 3โheโs getting up and going to the bathroom,โ she said. โAnd I was like, dude, dude, a 3 oโclock departure means youโve done all thatโฆ Donโt start looking for your glasses at 3!โ
Despite the early struggles with punctuality, Michelle admitted her husband has improved over their 30-year marriageโand joked that their daughters, Malia and Sasha, now know to arrive early whenever theyโre meeting up with her.
That said, timekeeping didnโt always go smoothly during Obamaโs presidency either. In 2014,ย The Washington Postย reported that he had racked up over 35 hours of delays across scheduled public events.
While the former president is currently finishing the second volume of his presidential memoirs, itโs clear that at home, heโs focused on something even more personalโstaying out of the โdeficitโ with Michelle.
