Former President Barack Obama was recently seen dining out in New York City with his sister Auma Obama, which has added fuel to ongoing speculation about the state of his marriage to Michelle Obama. The sighting took place on a Friday evening, with both siblings dressed elegantly as they exited an upscale venue. The 63-year-old appeared relaxed during the outing, which was the latest instance of the Obamas engaging in public activities independently, rather than as a couple.
Barack and Michelle Obama, who have been married for over three decades, have both maintained high public profiles since leaving the White House in 2016. However, their increasingly separate engagements have not gone unnoticed by the public and media. Michelle Obama, for her part, has been strengthening her professional relationship with her brother, Craig Robinson, exemplified by the launch of their new podcast, "IMO (In My Opinion) with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson," in March.
The growing trend of separate appearances has raised questions and sparked rumors about potential marital troubles. The speculation intensified when Michelle was absent from two significant events attended by Barack: former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral and President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Michelle's team cited scheduling conflicts for her absence at Carter's funeral, noting a pre-planned vacation in Hawaii.
Addressing the rumors on Sophia Bush’s “Work in Progress” podcast, Michelle commented on the public's inability to fathom her making independent choices, suggesting that people were so bewildered that they assumed divorce was the only explanation. Despite her statements, the lack of a direct explanation for the separate appearances has done little to quell public speculation.
The couple was last photographed together in December at Mother Wolf, a Los Angeles restaurant. Since then, their public engagements have been primarily solo, with Barack dining without Michelle in San Francisco and at a Japanese-Californian restaurant in West Los Angeles with their daughters.
Despite the separate sightings, both Obamas have shared affectionate messages on social media. On Valentine’s Day, Barack posted a tribute to Michelle, to which she responded warmly, affirming their bond. Additionally, observant fans noted Michelle wearing her wedding ring during a visit to The Academy headquarters in North Hollywood, which contradicts any separation rumors.