Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of the United States, has reportedly been “checked out” of life in Washington DC since leaving the White House with her husband, former President Barack Obama, in 2017.
This has sparked “certainly nonstop chatter that Michelle is fed up with the political circus, and pretending everything is OK with Barack all the time,” according to a report by Page Six citing an insider. The reports come amid rumors of the couple’s divorce, which have been circulating recently.
Barack Obama, however, shut down the divorce rumors on Friday by expressing his love for his wife on her 61st birthday via social media.
“You fill every room with warmth, wisdom, humor, and grace — and you look good doing it. I’m so lucky to be able to take on life’s adventures with you. Love you!” Biden shared on Instagram, captioning a photo of the casually dressed couple holding hands during dinner. “Love you, honey!” Michelle replied to the post.
Regarding whether the carefully timed Instagram post quiets the buzz about divorce rumors, a high-society source said, as quoted by Page Six, “It’s certainly been an interesting dinner conversation.”
Michelle distances herself from DC life
According to a Page Six report citing a Beltway insider, Michelle has been “checked out” of DC life since the couple departed the White House in January 2017. Despite owning a home in Washington DC, Michelle is said to spend most of her time at their $11.75 million oceanfront compound on Martha’s Vineyard.
This has led to “certainly nonstop chatter that Michelle is fed up with the political circus, and pretending everything is OK with Barack all the time,” shared the high-society insider. “What this will all lead to is to be revealed in time.”
Michelle’s absence from public events raises questions
Michelle Obama did not join her husband at former US President Jimmy Carter‘s funeral on January 9. She is also not going to join President-elect Donald Trump‘s inauguration on Monday, fueling rumors of marital issues.
“You cannot tell Michelle what to do — no one can,” said a source familiar with the Obamas, regarding her choice to skip the swearing-in, according to a report by Page Six. “That’s why she could not be persuaded to stump for Joe Biden during the last election.”
A source familiar with Michelle said no one should be surprised by her decision not to attend Trump’s inauguration alongside her husband.
“She’s always been very deliberate about where and how she shows up. She showed up reluctantly for the election. They were united, but she doesn’t have to unify around [Trump],” the source explained. “Her absence speaks volumes.”
“Barack will be respectful of her views, just as she is of his,” added a source who worked closely with the Obamas.
‘Not trying to pose as a magical couple’
Sources close to the couple say they have always been honest about the challenges in their marriage.
“They don’t pretend that they have this Camelot relationship,” said a source who has worked with them, as quoted by New York Post. “They’re not trying to present that they’re this magical couple.”
Was Michelle furious over Obama-Trump interaction?
The insider noted that the topic “is getting a lot of DC peeps talking. The noise is getting louder. I’m told she was furious at seeing her husband yukking it up with Trump at the Carter funeral.”
Obama and Trump, who had been highly critical of one another during last year’s presidential election, were spotted laughing and chatting in the seated crowd at Washington National Cathedral last week.
Past challenges in relationship
The couple was last seen together publicly in Los Angeles in December and at the Democratic National Convention in August.
In his 2020 book, A Promised Land, Barack wrote about his wife’s frustrations with his political career. Michelle has also admitted to hating her husband for a decade and being more “hot-headed” than him.
The couple has faced rumors of infidelity, with actress Jennifer Aniston denying claims of a relationship with Barack last October. A 2017 biography also revealed that Barack had maintained an intimate relationship with an ex-girlfriend while dating Michelle.
