Life after the White House hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Barack Obama — at least not on the home front.
During a candid talk in London, the former president admitted that he’s spent much of his post-presidency trying to “dig himself out of a hole” with his wife Michelle.
Speaking at The O2 Arena with historian David Olusoga, Obama laughed as he confessed that his years in office had taken a toll on their marriage, but he feels he’s finally managed to get back to “level ground.”
Addressing Misinformation and “Violence Against the Truth”
While joking about his marriage, Obama shifted to more serious ground when asked about today’s political climate.
He criticized what he described as “violence against the truth,” pointing to Donald Trump’s recent false claims linking paracetamol use during pregnancy to autism.
Obama warned that such statements are not just inaccurate but dangerous, saying they fuel unnecessary fear among parents and undermine public health. He stressed the importance of defending truth and science, even when it’s inconvenient.
Lessons From the Pandemic and School Closures
The former president also reflected on debates from the Covid pandemic, particularly over whether schools should have stayed closed.
He admitted that politics got in the way of honest discussions about children’s needs.
“Most kids really need school,” he said, noting that keeping classrooms closed for too long carried heavy social costs.
For Obama, the takeaway was clear — ideology should never overshadow evidence.
Marriage Rumors and a Show of Unity
Obama’s comments about Michelle came at a time when rumors have swirled around their relationship.
The couple, who recently celebrated almost 33 years of marriage, hadn’t been spotted together in months until they were photographed last weekend aboard Steven Spielberg’s $250 million yacht in Portofino, Italy.
Michelle has openly said that this new stage of life — with their daughters, Malia and Sasha, grown up — feels like “freedom” for her.
But despite the chatter, she’s made it clear that leaving Barack has never crossed her mind.
“There hasn’t been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quitting my man,” she told her brother on her podcast.
Speaking Out on Free Speech and Trump’s Policies
Obama didn’t shy away from politics either. He slammed the Trump administration for pressuring media companies to silence critics, calling it “precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent.”
He also criticized the militarization of police under Trump, warning that it poses a threat to civil liberties across the country.
The Soaring Costs of His Presidential Library
Beyond politics and personal life, Obama is also grappling with headlines about his presidential library in Chicago.
What was once estimated to cost $300 million has ballooned to a staggering $850 million.
The Obama Foundation has poured millions into exhibit preparations and staff salaries — with CEO Valerie Jarrett earning $740,000 last year — but fundraising remains strong, topping $1 billion in total donations.
A Balancing Act of Legacy and Family
Obama’s recent remarks reveal a man balancing multiple roles: former president, public speaker, husband, and father.
He’s still shaping his legacy, not just through politics and his foundation, but also through the way he navigates marriage and family life under public scrutiny.
As he put it himself, after years of political battles, his biggest ongoing challenge might just be keeping things even at home with Michelle.