Barack Obama recently opened up about his marriage to Michelle Obama, admitting he’s still making up for lost time. Speaking at Hamilton College on April 4, the former president, 63, reflected on their relationship, saying, “I was in a deep deficit with my wife,” and joked about trying to make up for it by doing “fun things.”
Married since 1992, the Obamas spent eight demanding years in the White House—a period Barack has acknowledged strained their relationship. Michelle has also spoken about their ups and downs, including his laid-back sense of time. On her podcast, she once shared how his “island time” habit frustrated her, especially when he’d start getting ready right at the time they were supposed to leave.
Over time, she said, he’s gotten better, though their daughters now know to show up early when meeting her. Even during his presidency, Barack’s relaxed timing made headlines, with reports of frequent delays at public events.
While he works on the next volume of his memoirs, Obama’s also focused on something more personal: keeping things strong at home.