Barack and Michelle Obama say they have been digging themselves out of a hole amid marriage rumors

During a European speaking tour, Barack Obama told historian David Olusoga at The O2 Arena in London that he has been 'digging myself out of a hole' with his wife Michelle after years in the White House. The former president was asked what he had been up to in the past few years and described his post-presidency life as a process of rebalancing his public and private responsibilities.

"I was digging myself out of a hole I found myself with Michelle. Now I'm at about level ground," he said. He added that the effort to repair the balance between his career and family life has been ongoing, describing it as challenging but steadily improving: "I have spent over eight years now trying to dig myself out of a hole with Michelle, and that's been challenging, but I feel like I'm making progress. I'm almost breaking even at the moment."

Those remarks come amid lingering, sometimes unverified rumors about the couple's relationship. In recent years Michelle has skipped several high-profile events, including former President Donald Trump’s inauguration and Jimmy Carter’s funeral, fueling speculation. The former first lady has also spoken publicly about feeling more independently empowered since stepping back from the presidency, remarks that observers have tied to the rumor mill surrounding their marriage. The two have also spoken publicly about navigating life as empty nesters.

Earlier this month, the Obamas sat down for a joint interview on Michelle's podcast, IMO, in which they addressed the state of their marriage in candid terms. The exchange marked one of the rare occasions in which they discussed private life in a direct, public forum. During a July episode, Michelle’s brother and co-host Craig Robinson teased the moment with a quip about whether the couple still likes each other, prompting Michelle to reply, "Oh yeah, the rumor mill." Barack joked that it had been touch and go for a while, and Michelle responded with warmth, saying, "There hasn't been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quitting my man."

Barack Obama said he had largely avoided following the chatter and admitted he did not always know what was being said until others mentioned it to him. The pair have been married for nearly 33 years and are parents to daughters Malia, 27, and Sasha, 24. The public visibility of their relationship has persisted even as they persist with their post-presidential work and public appearances.

Beyond their private life, Obama has continued to engage in political commentary. He recently criticized the Trump administration for alleged pressure on media companies to silence dissenting voices. In a post on BlueSky, he argued that the current administration has taken government influence over media to a dangerous new level and urged media outlets to stand up rather than yield. He linked to a New York Times op-ed by David French defending the First Amendment and the principle of free speech, saying that freedom of expression is central to democracy and should be defended regardless of the speaker or the audience.

The former president has long emphasized civil liberties and the role of a free press, while his own presidency faced scrutiny over surveillance and the handling of dissent. He also referenced an ongoing dialogue about the balance between security and civil liberties, noting that the First Amendment remains a touchstone for democratic norms across party lines. These comments come as he has sought to shape the national conversation around civic rights and media independence, even as he and Michelle navigate their family life in the spotlight.

On the philanthropic front, the Obama Foundation's Chicago-based presidential library and museum project continues to draw attention for its scale and costs. The center is now projected to cost about $850 million, up from earlier estimates of $300 million and later revisions to $500 million in 2017 and $700 million in 2021. A recent financial disclosure showed the foundation spent roughly $90 million to prepare exhibits and about $40 million in operating costs for the first year. Executives at the foundation earned substantial salaries, with CEO Valerie Jarrett paid about $740,000 last year, among the highest pay packages in major cultural institutions. The 83-foot glass window, an artwork by Julie Mehretu installed on the exterior, adds to the site’s iconic yet costly profile. Despite the rising costs, fundraising has stayed robust, with the foundation reporting more than $1 billion in commitments and a $195 million cash infusion last year.

The library project sits on Chicago’s South Side in Jackson Park and is envisioned to house a museum, library, and education center dedicated to Barack Obama’s eight years in the White House. The scale and expense of the project have intensified scrutiny of how philanthropic ventures tied to former presidents are funded and managed, even as supporters argue the site will serve as a long-term public resource. As the Obamas maintain a high public profile, the library’s trajectory remains a focal point of their post-presidency legacy and a symbolic element of the broader politics of memory and national service.