Are Barack and Michelle Obama headed for splitsville?
As previously reported by The Horn News, rumors have swirled in recent weeks of a growing tension between the Obamas that came to a head very publicly after Michelle’s refusal to be seen at recent presidential events with her husband.
Now Meghan McCain, the daughter of the late John McCain, and a top Washington-insider reporter, have fueled even more speculation that the beloved Democratic power couple are indeed heading down the road for a potentially shocking divorce.
Meghan McCain Exacerbates Obama Divorce Rumors: 'They Live Separate Lives': The marital status of the Obamas is under scrutiny. https://t.co/CRNgseM8L7 pic.twitter.com/P7ChvFBenj
— The Western Journal (@WestJournalism) January 23, 2025
After reports of Michelle Obama opting not to attend both the inauguration of Donald Trump and the late Jimmy Carter’s funeral with husband Barack, McCain and Puck reporter Tara Palmieri dished that this was just the tip of the iceberg on a potentially icey separation.
“I have been hearing this rumor that the Obamas are getting a divorce by reputable people. I’m not talking about TMZ. I’m not talking about Perez Hilton… I’m talking about like very serious journalists telling me that they’re hearing that the Obama divorce rumors are true,” said McCain.
Palmieri chimed in, saying: “We’ve heard that for a long time, like I just heard that they live separate lives.”
The last time the pair was seen together was in early mid-December, over a month ago, when they stepped out for dinner in Los Angeles, according to The Daily Mail.
Alleged tensions between Barack and Michelle began prior to him becoming president.
The latest divorce rumors have revived talk from just two years ago about a challenging period after Barack’s unsuccessful 2000 bid for a U.S. House seat against former Black Panther Bobby Rush. The loss was not just a political setback, but also seriously strained their personal relationship.
Michelle admitted she couldn’t stand being around her husband for over a decade until he won the presidency.
“People think I’m being catty by saying this. It’s like, there were 10 years where I couldn’t stand my husband, and guess when it happened? When those kids were little,” Michelle admitted in 2022.
Additionally, last October, actress Jennifer Aniston publicly shut down “absolutely untrue” claims by a gossip magazine that she and Barack were in a relationship.
However, the news made Michelle feel ‘betrayed.’
The rumor was compounded by the hosts of a popular pop culture podcast Who? Weekly, who claimed that the Obamas were “living separate lives” while he and Jennifer were having an affair.
The Friends star shot down the rumors at the time, saying: “I’ve met him once. I know Michelle more than him.”
Over the years, the couple has spoken candidly about their martial struggles, with Michelle previously describing the “resentment” she had over having to put her career on hold to be a mother while Barack’s continued to flourish.
And tensions only grew during their time in the White House – thanks to the immense “pressure” that came with needing to get everything right and be “on” at every moment, as well as Barack’s focus on his work rather than his family.