Barack Obama Opens Up About How His Presidency Affected His Marriage

Even the Obamas had to learn that hope and change apply to marriage, too.

Behind the White House portraits and picture-perfect moments simply stood two people simply trying to stay in sync while shaping the country.

On Thursday, during a conversation with Hamilton College President Steven Tepper, former President Barack Obama admitted that, after his time in office, he was “in a deep deficit” with former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Barack’s two terms in the White House proved that even presidential love stories come with debates — and not just the televised ones. But the former president admitted that he’s working tirelessly to rectify his situation with his wife.

FILE: Then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) and his wife Michelle after a swearing in ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. (Photo by Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images)BROOKS KRAFT VIA GETTY IMAGES

“I have been trying to dig myself out of that hole by doing occasionally fun things,” Barack added.

The Obamas have been married since 1992. When Barack triumphed in the 2008 election and relocated to the White House with his family, their daughters, Malia and Sasha, were 10 and 7.

In a 2024 Interview for the “The Pivot Podcast” podcast Obama credited his wife for helping him withstand the pressures of his presidency.

“My wife is such an extraordinary woman, such an amazing partner, that you just try to stay focused, stay on the straight and narrow. And also, look, kids change your life. The idea of disappointing your kids is something that, I ain’t going there,” he said.

But, even though Michelle was a sounding board for the former commander-in-chief, her journey wasn’t without its rough patches.

“People think I’m being catty by saying this — it’s like, there were 10 years where I couldn’t stand my husband,” she said during an interview with Revolt TV. “And guess when it happened? When those kids were little.”