Barack and Michelle Obama have long been admired for their partnership. Recently, however, rumors have been swirling around about a possible divorce.
Michelle Obama took the opportunity on Wednesday to not only dispel these rumors but also to discuss the unrealistic expectations society often places on women.
Michelle Obama joined Sophia Bush on her podcast, Work in Progress. During their conversation, she offered a rare, personal insight into how her life has evolved now that her daughters, Sasha, who is 23, and Malia, who is 26, have left home.
In discussing her new phase of life, Michelle enthused about the liberation of being an ’empty nester’: “Life is whatever I want it to be, Sophia. For the first time in my life, I have complete control over my choices.”
Known for balancing the roles of mother, public figure, and spouse, Michelle has often prioritized her children’s needs and her husband Barack Obama’s career over her own desires.
Now that her family situation has changed, Michelle is embracing this new chapter with a strong sense of personal agency. Her journey of self-discovery, however, highlights the struggles many women face when unapologetically prioritizing their own needs.
Michelle shared that most people understand when she says no, and she has grown comfortable with being all right with that. As the conversation turned more serious, she addressed the public scrutiny she faces when asserting her independence.
“The real issue is that women often feel pressure not to disappoint others,” Michelle explained. “That pressure is so strong that some even speculated about a divorce between us because of my choices that seemed to focus on myself.”
Speculation about the state of the Obamas’ marriage gained momentum when Michelle was absent from major public events, such as Donald Trump’s inauguration and the funeral of President Jimmy Carter held on January 9, 2025, based on reports—groundless but widely spread nonetheless.
While Michelle did not pinpoint which specific moments spurred these rumors, the fact that Barack Obama attended those events alone added fuel to speculative headlines.
