Barack Obama says he is ‘digging out of the hole’ with Michelle after marriage struggles

LONDON, UK: Barack Obama opened up about the challenges of balancing marriage and politics. He joked that he had been “digging himself out of a hole” with his wife Michelle Obama for years.

During his conversation with historian David Olusoga at The O2 Arena in London, the former US president reflected on his marriage. 

Barack Obama candid about married life with Michelle Obama

According to the Dailymail, when asked what he had been up to since leaving the White House, Obama replied: “I was digging myself out of the hole I found myself with Michelle." He hinted that his marriage was finally out of troubled waters.

He added, “Now I’m at about level ground."

Obama’s comments came after he previously joked about the challenges of married life during an appearance in Pennsylvania. “I have spent over eight years now trying to dig myself out of a hole with Michelle,” he said. “And that's been challenging, but I feel like I'm making progress. I'm almost breaking even at the moment.”

Rumors about Barack and Michelle Obama’s divorce

Speculation about their marriage intensified in early 2025 when Michelle Obama skipped several high-profile events, including former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral and Donald Trump’s inauguration

Michelle later addressed the rumors on her 'Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast' with her brother Craig Robinson. She explained her absences were personal choices unrelated to her marriage.

“People couldn’t believe that I was saying no for any other reason, that they had to assume that my marriage was falling apart, you know,” she said. Michelle firmly added, “There hasn’t been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quitting my man.”

Barack Obama also joined her on the podcast and joked, “She took me back! It was touch and go for a while.”

"And we've had some really hard times. So we had a lot of fun times, a lot of adventures, and I have become a better person because of the man I'm married to."

Barack joined her on the podcast and joked, “She took me back! It was touch and go for a while.”

Barack and Michelle Obama’s marriage and family life

Barack and Michelle Obama married on October 3, 1992, at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. By October 2025, they will be celebrating their 33rd wedding anniversary.

Over the years, the couple has been open about the difficulties they faced. Despite these challenges, they have remained committed, celebrating over three decades together.

They share two daughters: Malia Ann Obama, 27, and Natasha Marian Obama, 24.