Obama finally admits marriage strain with wife Michelle

Former US President Barack Obama has admitted that he has spent years trying to “dig himself out of a hole” with his wife, Michelle Obama, after politics took over their family life during his time in the White House.

Obama made the remark during a live interview with historian David Olusoga at The O2 Arena in London on his European speaking tour.

“I was digging myself out of the hole I found myself with Michelle. Now I’m at about level ground,” he told the audience.

It is not the first time Obama has joked about his marital struggles. Earlier this month, at an event in Pennsylvania, he quipped: “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.”

The comments come amid persistent — and unverified — rumors that the Obamas’ marriage has been under strain.

Over the weekend, the couple were spotted together for the first time in two months, boarding their friend Steven Spielberg’s $250 million superyacht in Portofino, Italy. However, they notably arrived separately, with Michelle stepping onto the 357-foot vessel ahead of her husband.

The sighting followed their rare joint appearance in July on Michelle’s podcast, where they openly addressed public speculation about their relationship.

“‘What, you guys like each other?’” Michelle’s brother and co-host Craig Robinson teased during the show.

“Oh yeah, the rumor mill,” Michelle responded, before Barack jumped in: “She took me back! It was touch and go for a while.”

Michelle, however, firmly shut down divorce chatter. “There hasn’t been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quitting my man,” she declared.

The Obamas, married for nearly 33 years, have often spoken candidly about the pressures of political life on their relationship — but also about their resilience as a couple.