Barack Obama admits White House years strained marriage: 'Was in deep deficit with Michelle'

The couple, who met in the late 1980s while working at a law firm in Chicago, married in 1992 and have two daughters - Sasha and Malia.

Former US President Barack Obama recently opened up about the toll his presidency took on his marriage, revealing he is now spending more time with his wife, Michelle Obama, to make up for years lost to political life.

Speaking during a conversation with Hamilton College President Steven Tepper on Thursday, the 63-year-old said, “I was in a deep deficit with my wife,” referring to the strain his two terms in the White House placed on their relationship. “So I have been trying to dig myself out of that hole by occasionally doing fun things.”

Notably, Obama’s comments echo similar sentiments he expressed during a 2023 interview with CBS Mornings, where he said, “It sure helps to be out of the White House and to have a little more time with her.”

In his 2020 memoir A Promised Land, Obama wrote about his early affection for Michelle: “I was smitten almost from the second I saw her.”

The couple, who met in the late 1980s while working at a law firm in Chicago, married in 1992 and have two daughters - Sasha and Malia. Over the years, they have candidly spoken about the challenges of maintaining their relationship amid the pressures of public life.

Michelle Obama, too, has been vocal about the difficulties they faced. In a 2022 interview with Revolt TV, the former First Lady had revealed, “There were 10 years where I couldn’t stand my husband,” citing the early years of parenting and Barack’s political rise as a particularly challenging period.

The couple once even sought marriage counseling, Michelle has revealed in her 2018 memoir Becoming. “There were times I wished things were different. But I don’t think I ever thought, ‘I’m just checking out of this,’” she wrote.

In recent years, rumours and speculation about the Obamas' marriage - including baseless claims linking Barack to actress Jennifer Aniston - have made headlines. Speculations flared up when Michelle did not appear alongside Barack at President Jimmy Carter’s funeral or Donald Trump’s inauguration.

However, the former First Couple has continued to present a united front, frequently posting affectionate messages and selfies on social media during occasions like Valentine’s Day.