Even former presidents have their rituals, and Michelle Obama has just lifted the curtain on one of Barack’s more unexpected quirks.
The former first lady shared on her podcast IMO with brother Craig Robinson that the 44th president has long carried a collection of good luck charms with him—a habit she says has stuck with him throughout his career.
A Drawer Full of Keepsakes
Michelle, 61, revealed the secret while talking to basketball coach Dawn Staley, who had shared a story about receiving a good luck charm from a pediatric cancer patient.
“My husband has the same thing, Barack,” Michelle laughed.
She explained that over the course of his first presidential campaign, people would give Barack trinkets—anything from rabbit’s feet to Buddha statues—as tokens of luck and prayer.
She said that Barack, 64, keeps all of these mementos in a special drawer and takes a few with him each day.
“Just a mix of perspective and it’s a blessing,” she added.
For him, these small objects aren’t just superstitions—they’re reminders of the people who believed in him and supported him along the way.
From the White House to Daily Life
The Obamas’ peek into personal rituals isn’t new.
Back in 2016, nearing the end of his second term, Barack shared his keepsakes in an interview with YouTuber Ingrid Nilsen.
Among the items he displayed were rosary beads gifted by Pope Francis, a small Buddha statue, a lucky poker chip from a tattooed biker during the Iowa campaign in 2007, a Hindu monkey god Hanuman, and a Coptic cross from Ethiopia.
He explained that even though he’s “not that superstitious,” these charms offered comfort when he felt tired or discouraged.
“I can reach into my pocket and say, ‘That’s something I can overcome because somebody gave me this privilege to work on these issues that affect them.
I better get back to work.’”
Love, Laughter, and Marriage Updates
Michelle’s candid look into Barack’s quirks comes as the couple continues to address swirling rumors about their relationship.
The Obamas, married since 1992, tackled speculation about a rocky marriage during a July episode of IMO.
When Michelle’s brother joked, “What, you guys like each other?” she replied with a playful, “Oh yeah, the rumor mill.”
Barack added with a grin, “She took me back! It was touch and go for a while.”
Michelle noted that simply being in the same room helps quell public doubts, teasing, “When we aren’t, folks think we’re divorced.”
A Heartfelt Reflection
Beyond the jokes, Michelle made a heartfelt admission about their nearly 33-year marriage.
“There hasn’t been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quitting my man,” she said passionately.
She reflected on their ups and downs: “We’ve had some really hard times.
We’ve had a lot of fun, a lot of adventures, and I’ve become a better person because of the man I’m married to.”
Speculation about their relationship has intensified in recent months, fueled in part by Michelle missing high-profile events like Jimmy Carter’s funeral and Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration.
Still, her remarks on IMO offer a glimpse of a couple who clearly continues to share humor, devotion, and mutual respect—even in the public eye.
