Obama makes surprising admission following divorce rumors

Barack Obama has spoken out about his marriage to Michelle Obama, providing a rare peek into their relationship—and confessing that he is still attempting to make up for lost time. The former president, 63, spoke at Hamilton College in New York on Thursday (April 4), discussing everything from gun legislation to Donald Trump’s massive tariffs. But one of the most talked-about moments was when he openly discussed his connection with the former First Lady.

“I was in a deep deficit with my wife,” Obama said during a chat with College President Steven Tepper. “I have been attempting to overcome this situation by occasionally engaging in enjoyable activities.”

Since 1992, Barack has confessed that his eight years in the White House tested their marriage. Over the years, internet rumors have circulated about their relationship, with some speculating on friction or divorce—claims the pair has never acknowledged.

Michelle Obama has also openly discussed the ups and downs of their relationship. On her podcast, she once mentioned the one behavior of Barack’s that drove her crazy: his laid-back attitude toward time. “Barack, you know, he had to adjust to what ‘on time’ meant for me,” she remarked, making light of his Hawaiian heritage. “Because he was on that island at that time.”

Michelle observed that her husband often started preparing just as they were about to leave.

“You know, I’ve got this husband who’s like, when it’s time to leave—it’s 3—he’s getting up and going to the bathroom,” she joked” “And I told him, ‘Dude, a 3 o’clock departure means you should have everything ready by then…’” “Don’t start looking for your glasses at 3!”

Despite their early timeliness issues, Michelle confessed her husband has improved throughout their 30-year marriage—and quipped that their children, Malia and Sasha, now know to arrive early whenever they meet with her.

However, timekeeping did not always go properly throughout Obama’s administration. The Washington Post reported in 2014 that he had over 35 hours of delays in scheduled public activities. While the former president is presently working on the second book of his presidential memoirs, it’s evident that at home, he’s preoccupied with something far more personal: keeping out of the “deficit” with Michelle.