Former president Barack Obama opened up on the pressure he faces to speak out during Donald Trump’s presidency and how it affects his marriage to Michelle
Barack Obama has opened up on how remaining in politics, and specifically his sparring with Donald Trump, has led to tension in his marriage.
The former US President, 64, has been married to his wife Michelle Obama, 62, since 1992, and the two have welcomed two daughters together, Sasha, 24, and Malia, 27.
Michelle has been by her husband’s side throughout his presidency between 2009 and 2017, and was even hailed as one of the most popular First Ladies of all time.
But, though it’s been a whole decade since the political duo left the White House, Obama hasn’t exactly been absent from politics as he’s constantly a target for his successor, US President Donald Trump, with the public in turn calling for him to react.
While he’s no longer running the ship, he is still a prominent figure in the Democrat party, advising and campaigning to help future leaders.
Yet, in a new interview with The New Yorker, Obama has outlined how this has caused a strain on his marriage.
The former President spoke of how the demands of his schedule are of great concern to his wife, including the ongoing pressure on him to be on the campaign circuit.
Obama said to the publication: “She wants to see her husband easing up and spending more time with her, enjoying what remains of our lives..
“It does create a genuine tension in our household, and it frustrates her. I’m more forgiving of it, in the sense that I understand why people feel that way, because people aren’t looking at me in historical comparison to other Presidents.”
“They don’t care about the fact that no other ex-President was the main surrogate for the Party for four election cycles after they left office.”, he added.
On a more positive note, the Democrat outlined that the fact people want him to be ‘doing more’ is a good sign’.
Obama said that it indicates that ‘there has not been as decided a shift in American attitudes as we are making out. And that’s part of the reason people are frustrated’.
He added: “Sometimes it’s directed toward me, which is fine because they kind of sense, Wait, how can we be doing this when I know that’s not who we were? And I don’t think it’s really who we are now.”
The publication outlined how Trump’s actions have drawn Obama to work in politics more than he would have preferred.
The former leader has campaigned around the US in every election cycle since he left the White House, as well as regularly speaking out and holding fundraisers.
During the interview, Obama also spoke out about Trump’s previous Truth Social post that’s been dubbed as racist, depicting the Obamas as apes.
Trump has refused to apologise and later said to reporters he ‘didn’t see’ the part of the video that showed the Obamas.
Obama said: “I don’t take it personally, I mean, I’m always offended when my wife and kids get dragged into things, because they didn’t choose this … That’s a line that even people whose politics I deeply reject, I would expect them to care about. I would never talk about somebody’s family in that way.”