Former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama has spoken candidly about the frustrations she’s faced in her marriage to Barack Obama, offering fresh insight into their relationship.
During an episode of the Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast with her brother Craig Robinson, the two were joined by Dr. Sharon Malone, wife of former Attorney General Eric Holder. Michelle recalled first meeting Malone at a Congressional Black Caucus event during Barack Obama’s time as a U.S. senator.
“They put us together because we were both reluctant spouses attending one of these huge dinners,” she said. “And what, where were they? Was Barack a U.S. senator?”
Barack Obama had been elected to the Senate in 2004 after gaining national attention with a powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention. He served until 2008, stepping down after winning the presidential election.
Michelle described an early memory from that time: “There was a line of people waiting to shake hands with our respective husbands—people reaching over us, spilling water, trying to get to these two illustrious men.”
It was in that moment she connected with Malone. “She had the same look on her face as I did, like, ‘Here we go,’” Michelle said. “I looked over at this beautiful woman and just saw it in her expression—it was like, ‘You see this? This is crazy, isn’t it, girl?’”
Her brother Craig jokingly suggested her expression meant she was “p***ed off,” but Michelle clarified it was more about mutual understanding and shared frustration.
This candid conversation follows recent rumours about her marriage, which Michelle addressed during a taping of actress Sophia Bush’s podcast last month.
“That’s the thing we as women struggle with—disappointing people,” she said. “So much so that this year, people couldn’t even fathom I was making choices for myself. They had to assume Barack and I were divorcing.”
She continued: “That this couldn’t just be a grown woman making a decision for herself, right? That’s what society does to us. We finally start asking, ‘What am I doing? Who am I doing this for?’ And if it doesn’t fit the stereotype, it’s labeled as something negative or terrible.”
