Barack Obama admits marriage with Michelle is NOT an ‘equal partnership’ as she reflects on their ‘ups and downs’ in new interview

Barack Obama has confessed that his marriage to Michelle Obama has not been ‘equal,’ as the two opened up about their partnership in a new interview.

The former president, 64, has been married to wife Michelle, 62, for over three decades, but in recent years, they’ve been inundated with rumors that their marriage has become rocky.

Now, during a sit-down with People, Barack spoke about the imbalance in their relationship.

I don’t know if it’s been an equal partnership, but it’s worked out for me pretty well,’ he said. ‘I’ve gotten more out of it than she has.’

He continued: ‘For her, it’s probably more of a mixed bag.’

Michelle, who shares daughters Malia, 27, and Sasha, 25, with Barack, heaped praise on her spouse as she responded to his remarks.

My husband is always thinking about reflecting the light on other people,’ she said.

‘I am so proud of how my husband showed up in that role [as President of the United States], how he shows up every day.’

Casting his mind back to their early days, Barack said he ‘knew almost immediately’ that Michelle was the ‘one.’

Speaking to People, he described her as ‘a one-of-a-kind woman with the integrity and character, smarts and values to make me better.’

‘Just being with her made me better, and she still does,’ he said. ‘And that she would [give] our kids a foundation that would pay off for them – and that’s in fact what’s happened.’

Meanwhile, Michelle said that together she and Barack are each other’s ‘counterbalance.’

‘The truth is, I probably would have been someone who stayed more put,’ she said.

‘I think I would have had a beautiful life here, but it would have been smaller.

‘But because of who my husband is, he offered all of us – our girls, my mom, my family – a broader sense of what’s possible in life.

‘He made me think more broadly about what I could do with this Harvard law degree besides be a lawyer. He gave me the courage. He was my ballast. He was like, “I got you.” And however hard it’s been, the ups and downs, he’s got me.’

The united front comes after months of unfounded rumors that the couple have been living separate lives after leaving the White House.

During a recent interview with the New Yorker, Barack confessed that there was ‘genuine tension’ in their household because Michelle wanted him to ‘ease up’ on public duties to spend more time with her.

Michelle also famously told a televised roundtable in 2022 that ‘there were 10 years where I couldn’t stand my husband.’

She sounded equally unenthused in an April 2025 episode of the IMO podcast she co-hosts with her older brother Craig Robinson.

‘You’re gonna have a bad decade,’ she said. ‘If the odds were you’re going to be married to your partner for 50 years and ten of those years could be bad, you’d sign up for it. You know, and that’s really how it works out.’

Rumors of an impending split were exacerbated when Michelle skipped two high-profile events Obama attended solo in January 2025.

In recent weeks, however, Michelle has publicly praised her husband.

During her speech at the Obama Presidential Center on June 18, she gushed that there had not been a single second in their marriage where she was not ‘left in awe.’

She also commended Barack for his ‘truest essence, stubborn optimism and unflinching courage.’

In addition, Michelle paid tribute to what she said was Barack’s ‘dazzling brilliance, unpretentious decency, ferocious work ethic and unshakable moral fiber.’

The former first lady then rattled off a list of her husband’s accomplishments in office, citing his work on the economy and healthcare.

‘Barack, there are no words to express how proud I am of the way you showed up and continue to show up every single day,’ she continued.

‘It has been an honor to be by your side. You have made me a better person and have given us all an example that we should strive to emulate, and I hope you know there is truly no higher calling than that.’

She concluded her speech by confessing her hopes for the center and how it will impact the Chicago community.

The Obama Center project plans were made public in May 2017 and originally projected to be completed by 2021.