'Digging myself out of a hole': Barack Obama opens up about marriage with Michelle

Barack Obama admits White House years strained marriage with Michelle

Former US President Barack Obama has candidly discussed the challenges he faced in his relationship with Michelle Obama following his two presidential terms, describing his efforts to “dig myself out of a hole” with his wife.

Speaking at London’s O2 Arena as part of his European speaking tour, Obama said, “I was digging myself out of the hole I found myself in with Michelle … Now I'm at about level ground,” according to The Standard.

The former president acknowledged that rebuilding their relationship had been a “challenge,” noting that their marriage recently drew public attention when Michelle did not accompany him to former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral in January or to President Donald Trump’s inauguration a week later.

Obama reflected that life after the White House allowed him more time with Michelle, helping to mend their bond. In April, he told Hamilton College President Steven Tepper that he had been “in a deep deficit with my wife” but had gradually worked on repairing the relationship through shared experiences and quality time.

He joked about the ongoing effort to restore balance in their marriage, echoing remarks made earlier this year in Pennsylvania: “I have spent over eight years now trying to dig myself out of a hole with Michelle. And that's been challenging, but I feel like I'm making progress. I'm almost breaking even at the moment.”

Michelle Obama has previously addressed speculation about their marriage, dismissing rumors of divorce and explaining that their private lives are not captured on social media. “The fact that people don’t see me going out on a date with my husband sparks rumors of the end of our marriage. It’s like, ‘OK, so we don’t Instagram every minute of our lives. We are 60. We’re 60, y’all,’” she told NPR podcast host Rachel Martin.

The couple met in 1989 at a Chicago law firm and married three years later. They have two daughters, Malia, 27, and Sasha, 24. Obama’s candid remarks at the O2 Arena offer a rare glimpse into the personal adjustments and efforts the former president has made to balance family life after leaving public office.