Barack Obama says being US President took a toll on his relationship with Michelle

Former US President Barack Obama has opened up about how his years in the White House impacted his marriage with Michelle Obama. Speaking during a discussion with Steven Tepper, the president of Hamilton College, the 63-year-old shared that the demands of his presidency had left him with little time for his wife.

"I was in a deep deficit with my wife," Obama admitted. "So I have been trying to dig myself out of that hole by occasionally doing fun things", he added. 

The couple, known for their public displays of affection and mutual respect, have previously been candid about the difficulties they faced during Obama's presidency.

This was not the first time the couple had openly discussed their marriage and the challenges they encountered during Obama's presidency.

Married for over three decades, Obama noted in a 2023 interview with CBS Mornings that their relationship improved after he stepped away from political life. "Let me just say this: It sure helps to be out of the White House and to have a little more time with her," he said in an interview with CBS Mornings.

Michelle Obama has also been forthcoming about the struggles of balancing family life with her husband's political commitments. In a conversation with Revolt TV, she said there was a time when she could hardly tolerate him. "People think I'm being catty by saying this — it's like, there were 10 years where I couldn't stand my husband. And guess when it happened? When those kids were little."

She previously disclosed in 2018 that the couple had sought marriage counselling to strengthen their relationship. Reflecting on those moments, she shared that while there were difficult times, she never considered walking away. "But I don't think I ever thought, 'I'm just checking out of this,'" she said.

The Obamas got married in 1992 after meeting in the late 1980s at a law firm where they both worked. They have two daughters, Sasha and Malia.