Barack Obama recently shared a candid reflection on his marriage during a talk at Hamilton College, addressing the emotional challenges he and Michelle faced throughout his presidency. “I was in a deep deficit with my wife,” he admitted. “So I have been trying to dig myself out of that hole by doing occasionally fun things.”

Obama acknowledged that the demands of his role as president from 2009 to 2017 strained their relationship and impacted their family life. He confessed he hadn’t fully grasped the toll his career would take on Michelle and their daughters.

In a 2023 interview, he remarked, “It sure helps to be out of the White House and to have a little more time with her.” Michelle also shared her own perspective in 2022, revealing, “For 10 years… I couldn’t stand my husband,” adding, “Marriage isn’t 50/50 — ever.”

Still, the couple remains committed. On Valentine’s Day, Barack posted a tribute, saying, “Thirty-two years together and you still take my breath away.”