Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama shut down divorce rumors on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, during a joint appearance on her podcast “IMO.” The couple used humor to address months of speculation about their 33-year marriage, which began after Michelle Obama skipped several high-profile events earlier this year.
The rumors intensified when Michelle Obama missed President Trump’s inauguration on January 20 and former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral on January 9. Her absences broke tradition, as other living presidents and their spouses attended both events.
During the podcast episode, Michelle Obama introduced her husband, Barack Obama, as her guest. When her brother and co-host Craig Robinson joked about having them both in the same room, Michelle Obama responded: “I know, because when we aren’t, folks think we’re divorced.”
Barack Obama immediately addressed the rumors with humor, telling listeners: “She took me back! It was touch and go for a while.” The 63-year-old former president said these are the kinds of things he misses, explaining that he doesn’t know this stuff is happening until someone mentions it to him.
Michelle Obama, 61, gave the strongest response to the persistent rumors. She stated firmly: “There hasn’t been one moment in our marriage where I’ve thought about quitting on my man.” She added that they have had some tough times and a lot of fun times, and that she has become a better person because of the man she is married to.
The divorce speculation gained steam in January when conservative commentator Meghan McCain claimed on her podcast to have heard from journalists that the Obama divorce rumors were true. The rumors spread further when Michelle Obama chose not to attend Carter’s funeral, where she would have sat next to Trump. CNN reported she had scheduling conflicts and remained in Hawaii.
Robinson shared how the rumors affected him personally. He described an encounter at an airport in Wichita, Kansas, where a woman approached him and asked about Barack Obama: “What did he do?” Robinson told the woman that everything was okay between the Obamas, and she was so happy it was like he had given her a Christmas gift.
Michelle Obama has addressed the speculation about her independence several times this year. In April, she appeared on the “Work in Progress” podcast and explained that when she says no, most people understand and are okay with it. She said the thing women struggle with is disappointing people, and this year, people couldn’t fathom that she was choosing for herself, so they had to assume she and her husband were divorcing.
During another April podcast episode with actress Taraji P. Henson, Michelle Obama reflected on the criticism she faced. She said her decision to skip the inauguration and make choices at the beginning of this year that suited her were met with such ridicule and criticism. People couldn’t believe she was saying no for any other reason, so they had to assume that her marriage was falling apart.
The former first lady emphasized her desire to live more intentionally after eight years in the White House. She explained that she now gets to look at her calendar and choose what’s best for her, rather than doing what she thought others wanted her to do. She described feeling completely free to prioritize her own desires instead of constantly meeting expectations from family members.
The Obamas married in 1992 in Chicago, where they met while working as lawyers. They have two daughters, Malia, 27, and Sasha, 24. Michelle Obama has written about their relationship challenges in her bestselling books “Becoming” and “The Light We Carry.” In a 2023 CBS interview, she acknowledged that marriage is hard after being married for 30 years.
Wednesday’s podcast marked Barack Obama’s first appearance on Michelle’s current show, which launched in March. The couple previously appeared together on her first podcast in September 2020. Beyond addressing marriage rumors, they discussed supporting young men and boys, with Barack Obama expressing concern about insufficient investment in male youth development.
The couple maintains their public relationship through social media. Barack Obama posted a Valentine’s Day tribute to Michelle on Instagram this year, writing that she still takes his breath away after more than three decades of marriage. Their joint podcast appearance represents their most direct response to months of speculation.
The divorce rumors had reached the point where people regularly approached Robinson on the street to ask about his sister’s marriage. The Obamas utilized the podcast platform to set the record straight, using both humor and sincerity to emphasize their commitment to each other, despite going through both challenging and joyful periods.
Michelle Obama has been more selective about public appearances since leaving the White House, choosing to attend events that align with her interests and schedule. Her absence from traditional political gatherings sparked assumptions about her marriage, but she has consistently explained that her choices reflect her desire for independence rather than marital problems.
The podcast episode focused primarily on parenting young men, but the marriage discussion at the beginning allowed the Obamas to address widespread speculation directly. Their candid conversation demonstrated their ability to laugh about rumors while reaffirming their strong partnership, which had endured for more than three decades.
