Celebrity Couples

Are Barack & Michelle Obama Getting Divorced? They Finally Address the Rumors

For most of 2025, Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have been the subject of divorce rumors. Speculation was rampant after the former first lady didn’t accompany her husband to Jimmy Carter‘s funeral or Donald Trump‘s inauguration in January.

So, what exactly is going on here? The Obamas have spoken out about the rumors to set the record straight once and for all. Scroll down for the latest updates on their relationship.

Are Barack and Michelle Obama getting divorced?

No, the Obamas are not getting divorced. Barack appeared as a guest on the July 14 episode of Michelle’s IMO podcast, and they spoke candidly about the rumors together for the first time.

“There hasn’t been one moment in our marriage where I have thought about quitting on my man,” Michelle confirmed. “And we’ve had some really hard times. We’ve had a lot of fun times, a lot of adventures. I’ve become a better person because of the man I’m married to.”

The divorce discussion kicked off the podcast, as Barack was welcomed to the show by his wife with a kiss. The PDA caused Michelle’s brother and cohost, Craig Robinson, to joke, “Wait, you guys like each other?” Michelle replied, “That’s the rumor mill,” and then Barack threw in a joke of his own, adding, “She took me back. It was touch and go for a while.”

Michelle also noted that “folks think we’re divorced” when she and Barack aren’t in the same room together. She previously spoke about where the rumors stemmed from during an appearance on Sophia Bush‘s Work in Progress podcast in April. Michelle pointed out that she has had a busy schedule for years and is now taking more time for herself.

“That’s the thing that we, as women, I think we struggle with disappointing people. So much so that this year people were — they couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself that they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing,” she shared. “This couldn’t be a grown woman just making a set of decisions for herself, right?”

How long have Barack and Michelle Obama been married?

The Obamas will celebrate 33 years of marriage in October 2025. They tied the knot on October 3, 1992.

The couple first met in 1989 when they were both working at Sidley Austin LLP, a Chicago law firm. She was assigned as his mentor. They had their first date that summer, just weeks after they started working together. Barack proposed on July 31, 1991.

Do Barack and Michelle Obama have kids?

Yes, Barack and Michelle are parents to two daughters. Their eldest child, Malia, was born in July 1998, followed by Sasha in June 2001. The girls now being adults is part of what has helped free up Michelle’s schedule.

Sasha and Malia were conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF) after Michelle struggled with infertility issues and experienced a miscarriage.