Welp, looks like even former presidents aren’t safe from the relationship drama gods! Barack Obama, aka America’s forever-cool dad, recently spilled the tea on his marriage to Michelle—and let’s just say things got real during those White House years.
In a chat with Hamilton College prez Steven Tepper (probably not over wine but we’re imagining wine), Barack got vulnerable. And no, not like “crying to Adele songs in the shower” vulnerable—but close. He admitted his two terms as President from 2008-2016 kinda put a dent in the Obamas’ love-mobile.
“I was in a deep deficit with my wife,” he said.
DEEP DEFICIT, Y’ALL. Not like “oops I forgot our anniversary” deep—more like “I ran the free world and forgot date night for eight years” deep. Oof.
But fear not! The man’s got a game plan. He says he’s been “trying to dig himself out of that hole by doing occasionally fun things.” We’re assuming this means surprise date nights, maybe karaoke duets, possibly even letting Michelle pick the Netflix shows without arguing.
This confession comes after rumors started swirling earlier this year that the Obamas were on the rocks. The gossip mill went full TMZ when the couple skipped Donald Trump’s inauguration (honestly, mood) and Michelle ghosted Jimmy Carter’s memorial service.
Naturally, Twitter exploded, tabloids got sweaty, and everyone started playing relationship detective like it was Clue: White House Edition.
But Michelle wasn’t having any of it. Two months later, she popped up on her new podcast and addressed the chatter like the queen she is. Probably sipping tea, probably unfazed, probably wearing a blazer we all wish we owned.
So, in conclusion: love is hard, even when you’re Barack and Michelle. Especially when you’re trying to balance being Commander-in-Chief and remembering your spouse’s Starbucks order.
But if anyone can pull off a relationship comeback tour, it’s these two. Just waiting for the Netflix rom-com based on this plot. Working title: Yes We Can… Still Make This Marriage Work.
