Barack Obama recently opened up about his marriage to Michelle Obama, admitting he’s still making up for lost time after years in the White House strained their relationship. Speaking at Hamilton College on April 4, the former president joked, “I was in a deep deficit with my wife,” and said he’s been trying to make up for it with “fun things.”
The Obamas, married since 1992, have both spoken publicly about the challenges in their relationship. Michelle has mentioned Barack’s laid-back sense of time, often starting to get ready at the exact time they were supposed to leave. “Dude, a 3 o’clock departure means you’ve done all that,” she once said on her podcast.
Though punctuality was a struggle early on—even during his presidency—Michelle noted he’s improved, and their daughters now plan ahead when meeting her.
As Obama works on his presidential memoir’s second volume, he’s also focused on something more personal: keeping things strong at home.