Michelle Obama has responded to rumors about her marriage to Barack Obama, which began when he attended a funeral alone and she skipped Trump’s second inauguration.
Speaking on the *Work in Progress* podcast, she explained her absence was a personal choice, not a sign of marital issues.
Michelle said women are often unfairly judged for prioritizing themselves and that people assume something is wrong if their actions don’t fit expectations.
Barack also recently admitted their relationship faced strain during his presidency, saying he’s been working to make up for lost time.
Michelle has previously shared that there were difficult years in their marriage, especially when she handled most of the parenting while Barack focused on politics. Despite this, she believes those hard years were worth enduring for the long-term strength of their bond. Sources close to the couple insist they remain strong and real about the challenges of marriage. Married for over 30 years, the Obamas continue to be open about the effort it takes to maintain a lasting partnership. Michelle’s message is clear: taking care of yourself doesn’t mean something is wrong—it can be a powerful act of strength.